So, I played through my smuggler's romance and got increasingly annoyed that the only two options were to become a perfect housewife for Corso and settle down, or shatter his heart into a million pieces and keep on doing what she does. When the smuggler said "Oh Corso, you make me want to be the woman you think I am," that was the last straw.

I figured at some point, Corso would need to grow the hell up and realize that you fall in love with someone for who they are, not the stereotype you want to fit them into. This story grew from that idea.

Corso sighed, watching as Ryli pulled another won pot from her sabacc game towards her. She said something flirty and humorous to the table, making the other players laugh, and making that Twi'lek lean in and say something back, which she responded to with a wink. Corso clenched his teeth. It was amazing that she was winning, let alone still sitting up, considered how much she'd had to drink.

He took the final swig of his beer and waved at the waitress. She brought him another one wordlessly and walked over to the sabacc table, bringing another round of shots to everyone. Ryli downed hers and grinned at the table, saying something he couldn't hear again. Corso blinked and peeled at the label on his beer, realizing he wasn't exactly sober himself. He looked up to find that she had left the table with her winnings and was unsteadily weaving her way towards him. He stood up quickly, knocking the chair over in haste and turning to right it; by the time he turned around, she was grinning up at him, swaying slightly.

"How'd yer game go?" He blurted out.

"Jus' fine," she said, with a slight slur. "But I thin' it's time to get back to the ship about now."

He nodded, and gestured to the door, following behind as she picked her way between the tables.

She paused outside and leaned into him for a moment, "Y'know, someone might thin' I'm an easy mark right about now, Riggs. Keep your hand on your blaster." She wobbled a bit as she shoved off him and started towards the spaceport.

Ryli weaved some more until he finally swung her arm around his neck and helped her move down the street. No one followed them that he could tell.

"Y'know why I love sabacc, Riggs?"

"Why's that, Captain?"

"It's the perfect excuse to drink and win money."

"There are other ways to do that."

"Yes," she nodded sagely, "But it's the only perfect one." She staggered, almost dragging both of them to the ground.

"I think yer a little drunk there, Captain."

"Oh? And how many beers did you have?"

"More'n a few, but I can keep my legs under me right now," he said, finally just swinging her into his arms and heading towards the hangar they were parked in.

She rested her head on his shoulder as they approached the ship and mumbled into his neck, "I won a lot of money. That'll make up for the hangover."

Corso chuckled as he got them both through the airlock and onto the ship. He carried her into her room and laid her down on the bed. "You should try to get some rest then, Captain."

Ryli tried to get her jacket off while she was lying down. Corso sighed and helped her sit up to slid the jacket off her shoulders. He leaned down and got her boots off too. She draped herself over his back. "Riggs."

"Yes, Captain."

"I thin' you might be right about the drunk thing."

He laughed again and turned to face her with a comment, only to be met by her lips pressed against his. His body electrified for a moment and he found himself running his hand through her hair as he clutched the back of her neck, kissing her. Then her tongue slid between his lips and he abruptly came back to himself. He gently untangled himself and moved away. "That's not a good idea, Captain."

"Why not?" She murmured, reaching for him again, "We're both drunk. We both want each other. 'S perfect."

Corso got to his feet, unsteadily. "Not like this Captain, I don't want to be something you forget in the morning."

She scowled at him and started to say something, but he quickly left the room and headed down the hallway to where Risha was working on the engine.

"Hey, Rish, I need you to go help the Captain out."

Risha didn't look up from the readouts she was perusing. "With what?"

"Just getting her into bed."

Risha looked up and eyed him, "You having an issue getting it done yourself?" she smirked.

Corso adjusted his belt uneasily, "Well, see now, that's kind of the problem."

Risha raised an eyebrow, "I thought you had feelings for her; was I wrong?"

"No, but..." he hesitated, "...she's just so drunk and I didn't want to take advantage or have some drunken escapade be the first time..." He trailed off at the look on Risha's face.

"Poor farm boy, you really have this picture in your head of how it's going to be."

"I just want her to remember it in the morning, Rish."

At that, she nodded and sighed. "That's fair Corso, I'll give you that." Risha stood up and stretched. She smirked at him again, "Guess you're stuck 'cleaning your blaster' awhile longer."

"I don't follow. If you don't clean your blaster it can misfire, you know that." He looked at her, baffled.

Risha started to explain and then shook her head as she headed out the door and down the hallway. She heard the airlock slam shut suddenly.

Corso came around the door also, "Oh no, no no no." He went running off the hallway and stuck his head into the Captain's room, then turned back to Risha. "Dang it! She's gone!"

Risha sighed unhappily. The last time Ryli had gone missing, she'd turned up two days later with some half-baked story about a rancor and a joyride with a pirate. Knowing her, there was as much chance that any of it was true as not.

"Come on Corso, we can split up and check her spots."