<div class="floatleft">(https://i.ibb.co/tD3hg7M/starfire1.jpg)</div><strong>Character Name:</strong><strong>Koriand’r</strong>(https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=304004.msg14848548#msg14848548)<br/><strong>Date/Time:</strong>Monday 29th April 2019 – Midday<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Perth, Australia – ‘Lux’ carpark<br/><strong>Wearing:</strong>Tamaranean spacesuit (as pictured) paired with thigh-high, predominantly purple explorer boots (https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_medium/11121/111217258/6672662-starfire_by_mystic_oracle_dazegt6-pre.jpg).<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Lucifer<br/><strong>Warnings:</strong>---<br/><strong>Extra:</strong>Kori’s Spaceship (https://weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ferrari-spaceship-2.jpg)<br/><br/><hr/><br/>The Human was talking, explaining<em>why</em>her ship might be in danger if she did not move it, but at first, Koriand’r was only half listening. Since she didn’t technically<em>need</em>her ship, she was instead taking stock of the contents she would need to salvage if she could not safely get her ship into orbit. However, that trail of thought was paused before it could properly begin, because her interest was piqued by the mention of ‘hostile alien incursions’. He was justifying Human paranoia, and whilst that didn’t excuse them from taking what wasn’t theirs to begin with, she easily empathised with the unexpected revelation that the Earth had been invaded many times before. Her agitated frown therefore softened as her mind was flooded with memories not just of her own subjugation under the Citadel Empire, but the entire Vega System; no thanks to the so-called ‘Guardians of the Universe’. Had the intergalactic peacekeeping corps turned their backs on the interior Sol System too?<em>Curious</em>, but she was happy to swallow back her questioning in regards to the Green Lanterns, for now, rather than let the bitter taste linger in her mouth longer than necessary. Whilst a dozen or so years was<em>nothing</em>compared to what had been<em>centuries</em>of being ruthlessly hounded and ultimately, aggressively conquered under the Citadel Empire’s Dominion; she accepted the justification for Human paranoia, at least.<br/><br/><strong>“But I have no desire to harm anyone,”</strong>she calmly yet very matter-of-factly countered his explanation. Empathy aside, she felt the need to defend herself and make clear her motives.<strong>“I understand the feeling of paranoia, truly I do, but fear does not justify ignorance. If you do not peacefully seek to learn of other galactic cultures, then how do you expect to prosper and evolve? I fear you will always be a primitive and vulnerable target for the many hostile forces in the universe.”</strong><br/><br/>Of course, she meant ‘you’ as in the whole collective of Humans, given that he hadn’t yet specified what he was, exactly, other than being ‘exceptionally atypical’. Yet in spite of her very youthful appearance, there was a wise and very regal air to her overall countenance and tone. Even in terms of the Tamaranean lifespan, Koriand’r was still comparatively very young, but her experiences far outweighed her current life stage. Besides, she hailed from the royal ‘first house’ of Tamaran, which meant that her schooling in galactic diplomacy was not to be underrated. Whilst she was perfectly willing to trust this supposed ‘Human’, she still needed a reason to have faith in his ability to guide her on the correct path, and be true to his word. Considering the mystery surrounding who he was exactly, along with his additional request to enter into a trade agreement, suffice to say her ‘faith’ had been shaken somewhat. He was being<em>very</em>cryptic, not giving her a straight answer, which bordered on the fine line between intrigue and agitation for the no-nonsense Tamaranean. His smirk suggested a swelling ego, which made her eyes narrow slightly. For now, he was holding her piqued interest, and she more or less gave him the benefit of the doubt in return. If she agreed to his terms, then he’d eventually have to<em>show</em>her what he was capable of, and that unspoken promise was more than enough to sate the simmering impatience of her unsatisfied intrigue.<br/><br/>Now for the crux of her intrigue. As he stepped closer, she expected a long-winded explanation which started with the name of his home planet and species, and ended with how he came to resist on Planet Earth. However, what she got, was quite the opposite compared to what she<em>wanted</em>. The curt and seemingly very dismissive answers he provided, immediately provoked a very confused knotting of Koriand’r’s brow. He didn’t come from a Planet?<em>How?</em>How was that even possible? Every sentient being was born on a planet – unless!<em>Unless</em>, he was smartly trying to be very tart with her. Had he been born in the depths of space, upon an alien ship, perhaps? Yes, that seemed like a possibility. Her frown didn’t ease though. He was sounding rather arrogant, after all. Why<em>wouldn’t</em>his origins make sense to her? He hadn’t even<em>tried</em>to explain, which made her want to stand her ground and pry further.<em>Complicated</em>? How was he complicated?<em>Why?</em><br/><br/>Her frowning gaze followed him, as he dismissively stepped towards the ship, whilst she silently stewed over his rather frustrating answers. She did not expect the first Human –<em>or whatever he was</em>– she encountered to be so…<em>puzzling</em>. The irked Princess found herself practically glaring a hole through the back of this…<em>anomaly</em>. Yes, that’s what he was. A curious anomaly which she would have to unpick piece by piece, just like the rest of this planet and its’ intriguing inhabitants. Would there be other anomalies? Her eyes lit up at the prospect, and her frown at last slowly began to ease into a more stimulated smile. It was helped of course, by the lengthier answer he provided her with this time. The way that he spoke, made it sound as though he too, had visited other planets. Further evidence that he was indeed, not at all Human, or if he was, then he was somehow very different to all the other Earthlings. There was knowledge and hints of experience trapped within his tone, and her eyes danced across his face as she took her time to fully understand his example explanation and justification for making continuous trade. At last, her more playful smile began to warm her expression. So did this mean that she<em>could</em>have simply offered him a smile and a verbal ‘thank you’ in exchange for his assistance? Was it really as simple and easy as that? In that case then, she felt that she would easily be able to make many trades with him. His wide, teasing grin, was therefore mirrored by her own.<br/><br/><strong>“Your <em>'schtick'</em>?”</strong>She echoed the word, getting used to the very alien sound of it on her own tongue, whilst she canted her head to the side slightly. For a moment, she was confused by the other very similar word:<em>Stick</em>. But this one was different, and it took her a moment of seemingly blank staring to pull apart the definition from the thousands of other words she’d assimilated within the space of seconds. So then, did he mean that making trades was his special…<em>talent</em>? His area of expertise? Something he would be doing quite often? In that case, she would have to make it her ‘schtick’ also, if she was to ensure that the deals were<em>fair</em>.<br/><br/><em>Ah!</em>He was feeling generous. For a second, Koriand’r determined that he was going to give her this assistance for free, but alas, that was not the case. What he<em>did</em>ask for in return though, struck her as not a very equal exchange. Knowledge of her home and her people was deep and vast, whereas helping to move her ship was a one-off gesture. Whilst she appreciated his zest for learning and knowledge, the same could not be said for the rather unbalanced trade scales.<br/><br/><strong>“Ah! Then we share at least <em>one</em> desire in common. This is wonderful news! If we are <em>both</em> to be seekers of knowledge, then let us be guides to one another.”</strong>She offered, standing firm but also very positive in her negotiations.<strong>“I will agree to trade you stories for stories, but if I am to alleviate <em>your</em> boredom, then you are to alleviate mine in return. I believe this is what you call 'fair-trade', yes?”</strong>Well, it was<em>her</em>understanding of fair trade, at least.<br/><br/><strong>“And as for my ship... If you assist me, then I will promise to assist <em>you</em> when you are next in need of aid.”</strong>Again, that sounded very fair to her, and more or less epitomised the very giving ways of her own people, in exchange for the unspoken promise to one day give back what you were given. Pass the generosity along, as it were, rather than selfishly hoard it all for yourself. She just wasn't used to vocalising what she would have done anyway without being asked, but if he needed to hear that reassurance for peace of mind, then she was happy to admit her intentions to him. As for her conclusion, she offered a more playfully tart smirk.<strong>“I too, am feeling generous right now. The smile, you may have for free."</strong><br/><br/>Still grinning, Koriand'r breached the anomaly's personal space with a single step closer, but not to physically touch him. There was a conscious effort to appear innocent as she clasped her hands behind her back, effectively pushing her chest forwards, whilst she regarded him eye to eye. Her voice however, adopted a very soft and enquiring tone.<strong>"Does that make you feel good about yourself? Or are you too 'complicated'?”</strong><br/><br/>Oh! This was fun! Enough to ease a lightly amused breath from her widening grin.<strong>“You see, compassion and generosity are really <em>my</em> ‘schticks’.”</strong><br/>