<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br/><br/>Damian knew where this was going. He knew the look in her eyes. Several times in the past he had turned someone down based on that look. Sometimes with merit, sometimes because he had misinterpreted intention. But this time around, he was certain that what he could see in her bright hues, was longing for comfort. The kind that could only be gained by something enticingly intimate. Under any other circumstance, he would back away at that point. He was no prude. Sex was useful. It worked off aggression, stress and just caused a deep relaxation of the mind. Or it could useful for procreation. But ever since the greatest loss in his life, he had skirted away from any romp that had any kind of emotional weight to it. He knew those eyes weren't asking for commitment, but she desired a kind of comfort that was nonetheless going to turn something that should be pragmatic, into something personal.<br/><br/>As he felt her press herself against him, the gentle scent of feminine sweat reaching his nostrils and the outline of her tight, petite body entering his mind's eye, he found her harder and harder to resist. Even as she spoke to him, her words just faded into the background and her panting and the supple waves of her voice garnered far more attention than what she was actually saying. He took in a deep breath, his chest rising noticeably against hers. Hands began to roam subconsciously, hoping to catch a further glimpse of how it feel to have her grind against him.<br/><br/><strong>"Everyone does in a different way,"</strong> he responded, after a silence had been held for an almost awkward amount of time. He really didn't have an answer for her. He plunged himself headlong into his work, but that obviously didn't apply to anyone looking for a way to deal with loss in a healthy manner. All he did was compound the frustration by ignoring it. The young lieutenant was proving difficult to resist, even more so when the look in her eyes persisted. Every voice of reason he possessed was telling him to back away now, but why? They both needed a distraction; a means to vent. The only risk was if he was completely, incorrectly reading into her actions. But the way she held herself to him... To hell with it.<br/><br/>Like an explosion for frustration, he threw caution to the wind and drew her up to him. One strong arm snaked around her petite waist, hoping to pin her in place, while the other reached up her back to cup her neck. All the while, his lips claimed hers roughly, passionately. It had been a while since he'd last felt to touch of a woman's lips. Even if a slap was soon to follow, at least there was that...<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br/><br/>Emily's expression soured as the gravity of the situation was outlined in the same, factual manner Damian had. She could tell Kari had done her research and was being as honest with her as she wanted her to be. But that didn't make the pill easier to swallow. She sat back more, her hands folding and resting in her lap as she listened closely to the rundown of how their 'Mechs were doing. She had gone and inspected her own Thug personally, and had been forced to wince at how much damage was littered across its frame. Fortunately, it was fixable, without any lasting consequences. None of the truly sensitive machinery had been damaged, but that did not shrink the costs to the point of being affordable out of one's own pocket.<br/><strong>"I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything better, considering how close we came to all be burning wrecks in those fields,"</strong> she stated in response.<br/><br/>She then chuckled at seemingly being compared to a no-nonsense drill sergeant. She had to admit, she liked that role, but she wasn't as confident as Kari was. <strong>"Okay, I've whipped some rookies into shape in my day, but I'm no miracle worker. Some of these jocks are going to be a complete waste of time, but we'll only know once we've invested in them,"</strong> she argued, but then quickly shook her head and waved the thoughts. <strong>"No point dwelling on it. I agree; it's our only shot. I'll try my best, but I'm no military academy teacher, so I have my limits,"</strong> she added.<br/><br/>Emily's expression saddened when commander Moreno's passing was brought up. Kari's trust in Damian did not assuage her concerns about the former Sea Fox clanner's presence and authority in the company. But, given that none of it was her call to make, she decided to let that slide in favor of a much more important subject.<br/><strong>"I'm sorry about your father, ma'am. I can scarcely imagine how hard this must be for you. Did he go down swinging? I suspect that's what he would have wanted,"</strong> she questioned.</div>