Clan Laerrin

Axel had come to the sickbay with a little gift for Kairi. He kept the package under his arm. It would be something that Kairi could look at, something to brighten up the room. It was rather pretty, after all.

And she could drink it. It was a bottle of alcohol.

First rapping on the door with his knuckles, Axel stuck his head in. "Special delivery." He said, holding up the bottle.

"I heard that patients are supposed to avoid drinking," Kairi remarked. She sat upright in her cot and waved him in. "And I try to avoid it myself. But, I try to avoid getting shot too."

Axel snorted. "Yeah, I've heard that. I won't tell if you don't."

He offered her the bottle, letting her examine it. "How's the leg?" He asked, tone casual.

Kairi shrugged. "I can move it, so that's a good sign," she said. She tapped it a bit and then shrugged. "Nerves are still taking a bit to heal. I should be able to walk around soon enough. Can't just sit back when Valtira is in trouble."

"Yeah." Axel grunted. "Guess you heard about that, huh?"

He shrugged. "Well, don't worry. We'll handle it one way or another. Won't be the first time I've helped some friend of a friend out of some jam they got themselves into."

"No way Nartok didn't call me anyways after meeting with you guys," Kairi remarked. She swished the bottle a bit and then looked back to Axel. "Thanks though. My family probably wants me to get some more rest."

Axel nodded. "Yeah, okay. Heal fast, Laerrin."

He gave her a casual wave and a half smile. Moving back to the doorway, he hesitated a few moments before giving another wave and departing.

"I'm already ready to get back at it," Kairi urged, leaning back into her bed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "My entire family has been telling me to stay in bed, even my father."

Pausing in the doorway, Axel turned back. "Yeah? Healing's important. You know better'n I do that getting slowed down even half a second can be the difference between life and death."

"That's true." Kairi kept her eyes closed and then waved Axel off. "Yeah, let me get some sleep then before I start teaching you Mando'a curse words."

Axel snorted. "You kidding? I'm learning from Coryn. I'm making sure he's giving me the curse words too."

He gave her a faint nod. "Sleep well, Laerrin."

"Of course he would," Kairi grumbled, slinking into her bed.

Out in the hallway, a familiar face was carrying a food tray in her hands. Daerah flashed Axel a small smile and peeked inside. Her face turned to bemusement when she looked back at him.

"She really ought to not be drinking," she said.

Axel's face went neutral as he spotted Daerah. When they last spoke, she'd been mad at him. How were they now?

Perhaps it was okay. Axel felt himself brighten at that smile, smiling a little in return. "Yeah." He chuckled. "She told me the same thing. I told her it can be something to encourage her to get better."

Axel's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, as he looked at Daerah. "How're you doin'? You, uh, last I saw you looked pretty hurt." The bleeding from the face was only part of that, of course.

"Fortunately it didn't leave much of a scar," Daerah said, moving some of her hair away. She gave a soft shrug. "I didn't really want to have a bunch of stitches there."

The zeltron looked back inside. "Well, maybe she'll listen to her own advice." She then looked back at Axel, raising an eyebrow. "What are you worried about? Or perhaps thinking about is the right way to go about it."

"I thought scars were cool." Axel smiled. "Nah. You look good." Really good, he thought, but she didn't need to hear that from someone like him.

"Uh..." Axel brushed one hand across his face, a little awkwardly. "I dunno. There's just a lot going on. I'm glad you're okay is all. Was worried maybe you weren't." Or that she still thought he was just a killer.

Was she even wrong about that?

Daerah didn't voice anything about the compliment. Instead, she focused in on the next part. "You know," she started, "I wouldn't even need to have empathetic abilities to be able to read your lies. I can imagine there is a lot going on, though. Big enough to have practically every crime organization come after you guys."

A scowl flickered across Axel's features, but only for a moment. "Oh, yeah. I forgot about that." He said sheepishly.

He leaned casually against the wall, crossing his arms. "Yeah, this is bigger than I thought. I thought... I dunno, it was just a few people who I can respect coming together. But I guess a new clan is a really big thing." He shrugged.

"A new clan is going to need more than a ragtag bunch," Daerah advised. She glanced down the hallways and then back at Axel. "There's still a lot of room to fill on this ship even me and my compatriots on board."

Axel managed a hint of a smile. "Who're you calling ragtag." He scratched at his (slightly scruffy) beard.

He followed her gaze up and down the corridor. "Yeah. Seems like we keep picking more up, too. Some better than others." He growled. He didn't trust that damn hunter.

Clearing his throat, he looked back at Dae. "So, you staying with us a bit longer?"

"Well, keep your eyes open. I'm sure you'll find more good sort," Daerah said with a smile. She hoped that her meaning there would be implicit. "As for me, for now, certainly. Remember, it's been a bit since I've had any sort of freedom. I'm admittedly overwhelmed by the choices I have now."