The question came with a breathless chuckle, the grin on his face as he pushed raven strands from his brow and huffed. They had just returned, respectfully, from their individual assignments. Brother and Sister, identical twins with inverted hair and strange eyes...
"Well, it wouldn't be fair brother, to let you dull yourself so soon..."
Equally robbed of breath the Corsair straightened as she fixed her Crow sibling with jaded hues. It was an uncommon sight to see the pair not spar in the hangers when time permitted, it was their bonding moment before returning to their respective regions and duties.
"I have some down time the next few days or so. If your up to it, we could find that tavern again. The one Dad hung out in when he was younger..."
The man's forest optics mirrored the smile on his ashen features. They had been to the place a couple of times before but not so recently...Missions had kept them apart for the better part of eight months and a respite from their duties was usually welcome when they could spend time together and catch up.
Mani, the female twin, nodded in agreement. Her name meant moon in the far ancient past of their Father's pre-Awoken blood. Named for her silver hair and deep grey skin she was the shorter twin. Stuffing her hand in her pocket as she bent to take up the straps of her pack she responded softly.
"I, don't think I've anything pressing soon.... We, should see our parents at some point....you know how Mother worries..."
Her brother, Sol, mimicked her actions. Taking up his own bag and stringing it over his shoulders before loosely folding his discarded cloak in his hands. Sol was the Sun and he wasn't named for his raven hair, he was named for his bright intellect and warmth with others. Even as a Crow he took to fostering secretes and helping where he could when off duty.
"Dad will never retire and she's busy tutoring others. I'll see if I can find him in the halls and get something arranged."
Sol waved to his sister as he turned away, accepting the copied gesture from Mani the pair went their separate ways.
Nearly an hour of walking later and Mani was home. Her gloved fingers worked the latch of the door, the lights becoming a soft glow as she entered the portal.
She sighed softly, setting her pack near the door as she removed her boots she pushed the door shut before padding off towards her room. The 'house' was small, but comfortable. The hall from the door to the kitchen and living room was narrow and short, room it opened to was a shared space between two functions with a window wall that overlooked the expanse of space. Her fingers found the pale console, pressing a few keys on the pad to bring up any messages she may have missed. Quietly her eyes scanned the translucent screen as she stripped away her armor, pressing an Audio button a modulated voice read back the transmissions.
Moving away from the recording, her armor gathered in her arms, Mani entered her bedroom. Laying the uniform across her bed she rummaged through for some more, casual clothing. Donning a dark, thickly woven sweater that was at least two sizes to large for her frame and a pair of similarly shaded slacks, she exited the room and pressed Stop on the play back.
".....Mom worries to much....."
She muttered softly to the air, gazing at the image of her Mother on the screen. She always left the same messages...Call me more often, stop and visit...you should come home and resume your studies....Are you eating enough?
Mani frowned. Come to think of it, she was a bit hungry. Her mind turned over the words of her mother as she rummaged through the kitchen. Not a lot to speak of other than some things her father dropped off while she was out...mostly 'snacks', things she could eat on the go and the occasional bottle of his 'moonshine' he liked to brew at home.
Her fingers lingered on the milky bottle a moment before she chuckled to herself. She hardly drank and when she did it was at home or in the company of those she trusted.
Not to interested in what there was in the cabinets she pulled on her boots, slung a smaller backpack across her back and ventured out onto the streets.
Her hands in her pockets she gazed around at the darkened windows of the other Corsairs quarters. Some were asleep, having come home from duty like her or they were out on orders. Those she did pass on her walk returned her nod but said nothing, she didn't have 'friends' to speak of and tended to keep to herself and her work unlike her chatty brother.
Eventually she arrived at a small 'hole in the wall' pub, a half way point between Crow and Corsair country where both facets of the Queen's army. Slipping into the open door she slid into place at the almost empty bar. The tender slipped her a menu as he set an ivory mug of black coffee in front of her.
"...You always get the same thing, force of habit to give out menus."
He chuckled, goading a smile from the smaller Awoken as he took the menu back from her. When she lived at home she cooked nearly every day for her parents and brother but now that she was on her own it was rare she cooked at all. When she did fancy a meal she just wandered on in, ordered a bowl of stew with bread and cheese on the side with a mug of strong coffee and called it good.
Taking her coffee she picked her way towards a table in the back, sitting so she could see the reflections of the front of the place in the window while she gazed outside. Setting her bag at her feet she rummaged for a roughed up book and pen, leaning forward around it she opened the pages and settled on a new one.
For a time she did nothing, simply stared at the blank paper a moment or two before she began to sketch. The bar tender knew her well enough to just leave her alone for a while, let her relax and unwind before actually putting in her order...
