Something in the Air (D9EM)

[Axel Ward]

Axel nodded."Coryn? Oh yeah. We spend a bit of time drilling every night. I think I'm getting pretty good."

He nodded again. "Yeah, Coryn's a good guy. Into cool stuff, but also... well, actually a good guy. You know what I mean. I'm used to guys like that being assholes, but he's not."

He gave Phoebe another look. "You two are good with each other, right?" He'd noticed a bit of weirdness between them, after the big fight on Corellia.

[Phoebe Wren]

The phrasing kind of made her think some rather steamy thoughts about Coryn and Axel 'drilling', and she cleared her throat softly to focus.

At least the question made for good distraction from that. "I... don't know, really. I thought we got along, but now I'm not so sure anymore. Maybe..." she shrugged, and a sigh followed. "I had thought he wouldn't judge me based on my parents' choices, but maybe I was wrong."

Phoebe shook her head. "I already told you my dad was on the Saxon's side, and he used to be Saxon. My parents sided with the Saxons and the Empire during that conflict... going against the rest of the clan with that choice. And that's a choice that's been hanging over me since."

[Axel Ward]

Axel listened, the expression on his rough features gentle.

As she finished, he frowned. "I guess I'm still kinda new to Mandalorian honor. Is that how it is? Something your parents do is something you've gotta deal with? So you gotta deal with what your father did?"

He winced, shaking his head. "Coryn's gotta realize that it wasn't your choice. Like I said, he's a good guy."

[Phoebe Wren]

"I don't know if that's what it is," she said in defense of Coryn. She didn't really know if that was the case, after all.

"But... yeah, it can sometimes be like that. It's not really part of how Mandalorian honor is, really, but well, it's kind of in people's nature to jump to bad conclusions. Like if someone said they were related to one of those Imperial moffs or something, you'd probably think: can I trust them?"

[Axel Ward]

"Yeah, okay..." Axel frowned, crossing his arms. "But it sounds like maybe you think you've gotta deal with what your father did, too. Even if you understand it better now."

He shrugged. "I dunno. I never knew my father, and my mother..." Axel grimaced. "I guess what my parents did just doesn't have much to do with me."

[Phoebe Wren]

"I guess I do..." she acknowledged with an almost somber tone. Phoebe guessed she'd might want to talk to Coryn at some point, to see what the beef really was. Or if it was something she had misunderstood.

"Maybe not. But things could've been different maybe if we were back on your homeworld and trying to fit in there? I dunno - we all got our pasts, and some of us are more responsible for the shit there than others."

[Axel Ward]

Axel's grunt was almost a sigh. "You got that right, Phoebe. We've all got our pasts. For some of us, it's our parents, for others, it's the things we've done." He turned his hands over to look down at his palms, his expression dark.

He shook his head, rubbing his hands on his fatigues. "I dunno. The past is the past. I figured maybe being in Clan Laerrin would be a new start, and what came before that wouldn't so much matter." Axel snorted. "That didn't happen."

[Phoebe Wren]

Now it was her giving him a comforting pat on the back. "I don't think we can ever run away from our pasts, you know, but well, if those bastards ain't paying your bills - kriff 'em. Or something like that. I heard it from someone on Nar Shaddaa."

Phoebe chuckled and shook her head. Pep-talk usually was her strong suite, but it was all awkward today.

[Axel Ward]

Axel snorted. "One thing I learned, crime bosses really don't like hearing no. 'Course, they like getting killed even less. Sometimes that's the only thing that can put them off." Axel shrugged. "Fine by me."

He looked at Phoebe, smirking. "Who told you that? I like it. Someone from Nar Shaddaa? I guess there's a few alright folks there."

[Phoebe Wren]

"Can't recall their name - was some entertainer at a club. Wasn't my type of entertainment, but that kind of stuck with me." Phoebe smiled as she gave a shrug. It was some year ago, and her head was fuzzy today.

"But yeah, there's some ok people on Nar Shaddaa too. All over the galaxy I'd say, but there's lots of shit people out there too - just a lot of people seem to concentrate on Nar Shaddaa in terms of shit people."

Her lips pressed together for a moment in thought. "Do you think you could do me a favor, if you get the chance?"

[Axel Ward]

Axel grunted. "Hey, I've been there. Well, you know that." Axel gave her a quick smile. They'd met on Nar Shaddaa, after all. "Plenty of shit people on Ord Mantell too, take it from me. And Tattooine. Takodana was alright."

Almost as soon as the question was asked, Axel nodded. "Yeah, sure. What'd'you need?"

[Phoebe Wren]

"Heh," she chuckled softly, "I'll take your word for it. And yeah, as you see, there's shit people among Mandalorians too... with the Saxons and all."

Well, this was kind of the chance to gently try to ease into a question she wanted answered. And she could have Axel asking it for her. Kind of. Technically. "You... well, since we briefly talked about what happened the other day, and things seeming awkward between Coryn and I. And I don't really know what he thinks about me. Do you... think you could ask him?"

[Axel Ward]

Axel mulled that over for a few moments.

"So, you want me to go to Coryn, and ask him what he thinks about you?" Axel's face scrunched up. "I mean... yeah, okay. I guess I can do that. Seems kinda funny is all."

He smirked. "Should I try to be a scary older brother when I do? Flex and all that?" Axel demonstrated, flexing impressively, the effect perhaps marred by the exaggerated scowl he gave her.

[Phoebe Wren]

Realising now what that sounded like, her face was starting to turn red. It was kind of a misunderstanding. Partially. She did want to know what Coryn thought about her, but she wanted to know what was going on too.

"I...!" she paused, her mouth clamping shut for a moment. "I meant, if something was wrong. About the other day in the sickbay. Not like... r-romantically..." Phoebe took a few deep breaths as she was growing even redder.

"Oh my gosh, why would you want to scare him?!" Oh my gosh, muscles!

[Axel Ward]

"Phoebe." Axel snorted, his smirk growing. "I don't think I've ever seen you turn that red before. Last time I saw someone turn that red... well, never mind. You're too young to hear that story." Axel cleared his throat. "But still, I'm onto something, I can tell."

He shrugged, his broad shoulders moving dramatically. "Older brother. Gotta scare the guy the little sis has a crush on."

The smirk shifted into a more normal smile. "But yeah, I'll talk to him, if you want. You got anything you want me to ask about?"

[Phoebe Wren]

"Damnit, Axel, I only wanted to know why he was acting weird!" she was somewhere between embrassed and angry now as she shouted at him.

"It's not like I said I wanted to do him or... " Kriff. Talking too much angry.

Feeling kind of cornered, she threw her hands up in there. "Ugh! Just... go jump out of the airlock or something!"

[Axel Ward]

Axel raised his hands. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Geez..." He shook his head. "I'll talk to him, really. I was just teasing you."

He studied her through narrowed eyes. It did still seem like she was getting pretty flustered, and protesting just a bit too much...

[Phoebe Wren]

The lady doth protest too much.

"Fine, fine..." she cooled down a little. As usual, her temper flared quickly, but she also backed down pretty fast afterwards too. "Sorry. I just don't like being teased about that. It's bad enough that everyone else treats me like a kid and all."

[Axel Ward]

"Hey." Axel scowled. "You're not a kid. You've proved that in any number of fights. So don't let some teasing get to you, okay?"

He regarded her impassive with crossed arms, doing his best to not think about how darn appealing she looked in that workout outfit of hers. "So, okay. You want me to ask him what he thinks of you. Fine. But what do you think of him? Honest question. It's important."

[Phoebe Wren]

"What does that got to do with it?" Phoebe protested at first, but she could tell from Axel's resting scowl-face that he wouldn't let that fly. Damnit. And for some reason she kind of felt like sharing a little... maybe she was being more empathic or something?

"I... dunno..." she kind of demurred at first. Though hardly in a dainty way, as Phoebe looked more like she was frustrated. "I think he's kind of cool. Awesome in a fight, knows how to talk and have fun. The beard doesn't look too bad."

Yes, she was being a little coy on purpose. "I just think he's nice to hang out with too."