Andronikos headed straight for the alcohol in his room. He got a quarter through a bottle before the door hissed open behind him.

"I said the wrong thing," Liri said. He didn't turn, just took another swig from the bottle. "What did I say, Rev?"

His voice was rough, "Nothing, Lir. You said nothing wrong. It's my fault."

She was somewhere behind him; he could hear her moving.

"I won't make you beg, Rev. I promise."

"It's not you. I probably wouldn't mind. You've tied me up pretty creatively before."

"But I've always been the one to give in."

He didn't answer her.

"Why won't you beg, Rev?"

"Real men don't beg."

"What?"

"It was beat into me. Real men never beg for anything."

"And drinking helps?"

Andronikos snarled and took another swig. He hadn't been drinking as much since she came back, dropping his intake a bit every day. Liri sat behind him, he could feel her close to him, but not touching.

"I just want to understand," she said quietly.

"Do you remember the bad times being a slave? Were there any?"

"Of course there were."

"When someone else controlled what happened to you, the sheer powerless you had over what was going to happen to you?"

"I remember."

"That's why I drink."

"That's not the only reason."

"When you left, I got that feeling again, that powerlessness. Yes. It's the only reason."

They were silent together and her hands wrapped around him.

"We're quite the pair," she murmured, her accent more pronounced. He took another swig from the bottle. "Gimme," she demanded, reaching for the bottle.

"To drink or take away from me?"

"Both?"

He handed her the bottle. She took a large swig herself.

"I love you, Rev."

They sat there and finished the bottle together, staring out at the stars. Liri got another bottle. After awhile, Andronikos started to talk to her. About his mother, his sister and eventually, his father. She talked about the Moff, his fingers tightening on the bottle with every story. She told him about her time as a dancer. How she tried to protect the other dancers and developed a reputation for being dangerous as her force powers started to develop. She'd quickly become adept at manipulating the emotions of clients and her owners, making a good life for herself.

"So the guy you killed, that got you into the academy, you never told me that story."

"Well, I was dancing and he asked for a private show, so I led him in the back. He was getting a bit forceful with me and then he twisted my arm behind me and slammed me against a wall, intending to rape me no doubt. My usual powers of persuasion weren't working." Her eyes started to glow slightly. "I felt this wave of anger crash over me and then he was choking to death before my eyes. The owner came in, having heard him slam me against the wall." She sighed, slumping down, "I actually owe that man my life. He could have just outright killed me, but he was hoping to get in good with whoever became my master."

"Did he?"

"I sent him a large amount of credits when I became Zash's apprentice. Got in contact with him recently for the party. He'd agreed to my terms back when I became a Lord and I've actually owned his club for awhile now."

"What were your terms?"

"Fair treatment of the dancers, protection for them, wages so that they could someday buy their freedom."

"You own a club on Nar Shaddaa?"

"We're just learning all kinds of things today, aren't we?"

Andronikos smiled at her, a genuine smile. Then he ran his hand over his mohawk carefully, "Maybe there is more than just the sex between us."

"But you would have married me for just the sex?"

"Nice trap."

"Thank you."

"I love you, Lir. You know it, don't make me keep saying it."

"I'll keep wanting to hear it forever."

He stroked her wrist gently and then pulled her onto his lap with a swift movement, catching her by surprise.

"We don't have to talk about everything today," she murmured, kissing him.

At the kiss, his entire focus shifted and he tried to find the opening on her robe. "Get naked or I'm going to rip this off of you," he finally growled.

Not too long later, Pella burst into the room and Andronikos stopped moving briefly before deciding he really didn't care and she could get the hell out if she didn't like it. He shifted in the way that made Liri groan and glared at Pella, "Get out."

Pella was watching them, in an analytical way that he found annoying. At his words, she tilted her head at him and drifted her eyes down the two of them again.

"Pella!" He yelled. Liri surged up against him, kissing his neck and he was momentarily distracted.

"I need to talk to Liri," Pella said, still watching them.

Liri was whimpering, not paying attention to anything else and the sight of her peaking sent him right over the edge too. Lightning arched over both of them and when it cleared, he glared furiously at Pella as he got off Liri. She was eyeing him speculatively and he turned his back on her to fasten his pants.

"After this wedding is over, I don't want to see you for a good month," he said to Pella.

"Fine by me, I'll get Decimus to take me somewhere."

"What did you want, Pella?" Liri said.

"I fixed the flower issue, but I had to promise you would send weapons."

"That's acceptable."

"The bachelor/bachelorette parties have been merged. I hope you're both ready for Friday. Your friends are getting here Thursday, but I've arranged rooms for them on board."

"How many of them are making it?"

"All but Havih. He had another party or something?"

"For what we're paying?"

"You want to ask him yourself?"

"Yes, find out what's a good time to call."

Pella made a note. "Alright, also Xalek has requested to speak at the wedding."

"That's fine."

Pella grinned at the two of them. "Not long now!"

"I hear we can get ship captain to marry us without all this fuss," Liri murmured to Andronikos.

Pella glared, "I will slit both of you open and eat your hearts."

Liri threw her hands up, conceding.

"Gget out now. I will let you babble to me about the wedding for twenty minutes straight if you give me an hour of peace right now," Andronikos got out through gritted teeth.

"Oh deal!" Pella spun and left.

He caught Liri up in his arms and carried her to the bed, "Let's do this right this time."