Still smiling Karrde was engrossed in the paperwork which was threatening
to overflow his table. He stopped abruptly and a huge grin spread across
his face. That woman was certainly something else. She had a way of
rendering a man speechless and it amazed him how she seemed to do it
without thinking. It was as if her whole personality held him enraptured
and all she had to do was to walk into a room and everything seemed to
stop. Breathing and coherent thought became almost impossible. She shone,
for the lack of a better expression. You could feel the warmth of her
personality and the kindness which was beneath her cool exterior. And it
didn't make it easier that she was so stunningly beautiful. Her hair so
black and her eyes so very green that...
He was suddenly snapped out of his reverie by a loud caugh. He swiveled around to see a smirking, very happy Aves. Just the man he most definitely did not want to see. Karrde managed to keep his expression steady and not grimace. It took some effort but he managed, barely.
« Hello Captain. If you don't mind me asking what had you so enraptured that you could barely contain yourself and which made you so distracted that you didn't notice my very [i] loud [/i] arrival? » He asked curiously.
It had to be something very special by the huge grin on Karrde's usually so passive face. It had made him seem like a lov-. Aves' eyes widened slightly. Of course. Karrde knew. It wasn't surprising really, he always knew everything, even about himself. One down, one to go. Thankfully he and Josie had decided that he would take care of Karrde while Josie took care of Shada, the most stubborn woman in the galaxy, not counting Mara Jade. But Mara had come to her senses, so maybe there was still hope.
« Nothing important.» was Karrde's taciturn response. He turned back towards his work and picked up his pen again. Maybe Aves would take the hint. But the smile on Aves' face stayed and he wouldn' budge from the doorway. Karrde continued his work while trying unsuccesfully to ignore Aves and his all too knowing expression. Finally he had enough and demanded angrily.
« What do you want Aves ? »
« Oh nothing, sir. Decided to pop in here and ask humbly for reinforcements. «
Curiosity got the best of Karrde, for he was still just a smuggler. « Reinforcements ? »
«We, meaning me, Josie, and Shada are going to the gym to get a good workout. I'm predicting that Josie is asking. « Aves looked at his chrono. « Right about .. now, if Shada is willing to, and let me quote her on that 'beat the living daylights out of me' for the sole purpose of entertainment. And while I do sincerely agree that entertaining beautiful woman is every gentleman's duty, I would prefer to even the odds of me not getting slammed to the blue mat until I'm camouflaged perfectly. » Aves looked at his Captain questioningly.
Karrde stared at him for a moment. Sometimes it felt that his crew was becoming crazier day by day. So, now only to decide what to do. He could go with Aves and get a workout, and see Shada. Maybe he could convince Aves for some hand-to-hand combat practise. It would make him feel better. A few punches at Aves and.. And he'd see Shada. Did he think of her twice. He blinked. Even his unconscious mind was plagued by her.
Or of course, he could stay here in the stuffy office and do some paperwork. He stole a glance at the pile on his desk and involuntary shuddered. He made his decision.
« What time ? « He asked sullenly.
« After Shada's shift, sir. And please be on time. The women are very blood- thirsty because of their hangovers and if one prefers to stay alive and intact, one would be wise to stay out of their way. And I don't fancy meeting the two of them alone. »
« Why don't you ? » Karrde asked.
« Why don't I what ? » Aves asked puzzled.
« Stay out of their way. »
« Oh, I'm not one to be described as sane and , sir, frankly, they draw me in. »
After Aves left, Karrde stared at the floor with a thoughtful expression on his face. [i] They draw you in.. [/i]
He was suddenly snapped out of his reverie by a loud caugh. He swiveled around to see a smirking, very happy Aves. Just the man he most definitely did not want to see. Karrde managed to keep his expression steady and not grimace. It took some effort but he managed, barely.
« Hello Captain. If you don't mind me asking what had you so enraptured that you could barely contain yourself and which made you so distracted that you didn't notice my very [i] loud [/i] arrival? » He asked curiously.
It had to be something very special by the huge grin on Karrde's usually so passive face. It had made him seem like a lov-. Aves' eyes widened slightly. Of course. Karrde knew. It wasn't surprising really, he always knew everything, even about himself. One down, one to go. Thankfully he and Josie had decided that he would take care of Karrde while Josie took care of Shada, the most stubborn woman in the galaxy, not counting Mara Jade. But Mara had come to her senses, so maybe there was still hope.
« Nothing important.» was Karrde's taciturn response. He turned back towards his work and picked up his pen again. Maybe Aves would take the hint. But the smile on Aves' face stayed and he wouldn' budge from the doorway. Karrde continued his work while trying unsuccesfully to ignore Aves and his all too knowing expression. Finally he had enough and demanded angrily.
« What do you want Aves ? »
« Oh nothing, sir. Decided to pop in here and ask humbly for reinforcements. «
Curiosity got the best of Karrde, for he was still just a smuggler. « Reinforcements ? »
«We, meaning me, Josie, and Shada are going to the gym to get a good workout. I'm predicting that Josie is asking. « Aves looked at his chrono. « Right about .. now, if Shada is willing to, and let me quote her on that 'beat the living daylights out of me' for the sole purpose of entertainment. And while I do sincerely agree that entertaining beautiful woman is every gentleman's duty, I would prefer to even the odds of me not getting slammed to the blue mat until I'm camouflaged perfectly. » Aves looked at his Captain questioningly.
Karrde stared at him for a moment. Sometimes it felt that his crew was becoming crazier day by day. So, now only to decide what to do. He could go with Aves and get a workout, and see Shada. Maybe he could convince Aves for some hand-to-hand combat practise. It would make him feel better. A few punches at Aves and.. And he'd see Shada. Did he think of her twice. He blinked. Even his unconscious mind was plagued by her.
Or of course, he could stay here in the stuffy office and do some paperwork. He stole a glance at the pile on his desk and involuntary shuddered. He made his decision.
« What time ? « He asked sullenly.
« After Shada's shift, sir. And please be on time. The women are very blood- thirsty because of their hangovers and if one prefers to stay alive and intact, one would be wise to stay out of their way. And I don't fancy meeting the two of them alone. »
« Why don't you ? » Karrde asked.
« Why don't I what ? » Aves asked puzzled.
« Stay out of their way. »
« Oh, I'm not one to be described as sane and , sir, frankly, they draw me in. »
After Aves left, Karrde stared at the floor with a thoughtful expression on his face. [i] They draw you in.. [/i]