Two magicians one room (D4 EA Leahs apt.)

[Leah kuso]

"Flatterer" Leah said with a chuckle, slipping her underwear on "I enjoy it though, it's surprisingly fun, and I'm totally interested in joining in more. Assuming Vex doesn't stop me, you really rub her up the wrong way you know."

She peeked over her shoulder at him.

"No idea why, do you know?"

[Manny Donos]

"I'd like that." Manny said, warmly and honestly.

The observation made Manny's bare shoulders tighten visibly, if slightly, easier to see with him facing away. "Well... yeah..." He fiddled with his mug a few moments, then sighed. "I mean, I was always trying to get in good with her. Show that I could be part of her crew. Come up with one sort of scheme or another."

His shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. "Nothing's worked out, I guess. I think she doesn't think I have what it takes to be big time."

[Leah kuso]

"Hmm..." Leah mused as she slipped her top on, before going to sit next to Manny.

"Sometimes you seem very happy go lucky and perhaps Vex doesn't like that? She's the very serious type, and magic sometimes doesn't seem very serious. You just need to show her you're more than just a magician, you're a reliable person. Once you prove yourself you'll be good, although I'm not sure why you want to be in with Vex."

[Manny Donos]

"Yeah..." Manny chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean... it's not serious, not exactly. It's about entertaining people. But it's a lot of hard work..."

He shifted a little as Leah sat next to him, facing her at an angle. His expression was more thoughtful than usual. "I've been getting asked a lot lately why I want to be in with Vex. I don't know, it doesn't have to be her. But she's made it big. I just want to make it big, too. And..." Manny sighed, his expression darkening further, "I guess I just don't know another way. Just, y'know, crime and stuff."

[Leah kuso]

"I was literally brought up in it, I had no other choice. There has to be another way though..." Leah put her hand on his arm "you're a good guy Manny. I don't think I could picture you covered in blood standing over dead bodies you've killed. It just doesn't suit you. So like, while I get it's the best way to make money...just be careful. I'd hate for you to end up in my situation."

[Manny Donos]

Manny made a face. "Ew. No. That sounds gross. But what about swirling a cape as I make off with someone's stuff? That sounds pretty cool." He flashed a grin at her. "Thanks, Leah. That's really nice." He reached up, putting his hand over hers.

His grin faded to a gentle smile, tinged with concern. "What's your situation?"

[Leah kuso]

"A cape-swirling thief?" Leah laughed at that imagery "that would be interesting to see! Still, it's not a great life. Don't you want to go out into the stars and see the galaxy?"

When asked about her life she sighed softly. "My parents were in a lot of debt. A serious amount. They couldn't pay it, so they tried to run away and got caught. Their debt became my debt after they were caught and shot. I've paid off their debt, but well...now I've got to pay off the debt I run up since being a child until now."

[Manny Donos]

"I'm sorry." Manny said softly, giving her hand a squeeze.

Then he frowned, his forehead creasing in thought. "That doesn't seem fair, though. I mean, it sounds like you were just a kid. Why do you have to pay your parents debts?"

He sighed, more thoughtfully than sadly. "I guess... I don't know." He looked at Leah. "What do you want, Leah?"

[Leah kuso]

"Because they were going to kill me as well if I didn't" Leah said honestly "so really what choice did I have? I was like six at the time, I didn't think debts like that took so long to pay off nor did I know I was creating my own debt just being alive."

She went silent, thinking, before shaking her head.

"I don't know what I want. Really. I'd love to go and see the galaxy, but right now I'm tied to here and will be for a while."

[Manny Donos]

Manny made another face. "That's not fair." He insisted. Agitated, he waved a hand around, gesticulating. "That's... one person shouldn't trap another person like that. And a kid! It's not right."

He flopped back on the bed with a groan. A few moments later, he pushed himself up onto his elbows. "How much?" He asked. "And is the number going down, at least?"

[Leah kuso]

"It's going down, but it's still somewhere in the region of 30 thousand credits. At least that's what Vex said it was, but when you're the one in charge you get to decide the number" Leah shrugged "that's why I'm warning you here. Don't get sucked into this life, don't let Vex get a hold on you, or you'll end up in as bad a spot and I'd hate to see you like that."

[Manny Donos]

Manny looked at Leah a long time, his expression difficult to read.

Then he smiled at her. "So... if you could go anywhere, do anything... what would it be? Anything at all." He waved a hand. "We're magicians, so anything's possible."

[Leah kuso]

"Anywhere?"

Leah went silent for a while, thinking, before saying "I'd love to see Alderaan with my own eyes. I've read stories about it, and how beautiful parts of it is, but I've never even left this planet once. It would be kinda cool to go somewhere like that, so different to this planet. Don't you think?"

[Manny Donos]

Manny sat all the way up again. "Yeah... yeah! I was just talking with Munch about that a few weeks back. Alderaan. Or maybe one of the Cor worlds. You know, Correlia, Coruscant, Corseccia." He nodded.

"But yeah. That sounds really nice." He agreed, smiling. "You think you'd wanna live there? Or just visit it, travel somewhere else?"

[Leah kuso]

"What, and leave all this?" Leah motioned around her room, hitting her arm on one of the walls, before laughing "but it's so scenic, and spacious!"

She peered back at him.

"If you had a choice to live here, or live in one of those civilized worlds, wouldn't you pick civilization rather than the outer rim? We live in a gangsters paradise. Only thing we had going for us was the Imperials hadn't tried to barge in and now they're here too."

[Manny Donos]

Manny snorted. "Yeah... I mean... I don't know. I grew up here. Go Kamda City Manka cats!" He pumped a fist in the air. "And there some stuff I like about here."

He sighed, shifted a little on the bed. "But I've always known I'd end up somewhere like Alderaan. Retire there. Spend all day drinking fancy drinks with my crew. Once I made it big."

He hesitated, chewing his lip. "Or... I wouldn't. And I'd be stuck here." That was the real fear, of course.

[Leah kuso]

Leah laughed. "I'm sure Alderaan has its own team that even win games! Maybe even more than one!"

She shrugged, laying back and looking at the cealing.

"However I think I'm stuck. Really, like, without trying to outrun hardened criminals and doing better than my parents? I don't see the point trying, if they couldn't do it then I sure as hell won't."

[Manny Donos]

Manny chuckled. "Maybe. I bet the Manka Cats are better, though." He said; hometown pride wouldn't let him say anything else.

"Hey." He rolled onto his side, smiling at her. "Don't talk like that. You're Leah! You're amazing! Seriously, I've never had such a talented assistant. We should come up with some name for you. If I'm Magic Manny, you could be... huh. Something with an L, anyway."

He shook his head, his damp hair shaking about. "But I bet you could do it. You're pretty great, y'know?" He nudged her side playfully.

[Leah kuso]

"Lovely Leah?" She offered with a smile, nodding to him "yeah yeah, you don't need to compliment me. You're already sleeping with me you know" she winked, before chuckling "thanks though. Means a lot. I'll just keep doing my best, and hopefully it'll be enough to either get me my freedom or a lofty position in Vexs organization. Those are ok dreams right?"

[Manny Donos]

"Those are pretty good dreams, yeah. Not so different from what I've got." Manny said. "Well, if you make it big, and I don't, book my show, huh?"

He chuckled. "And yeah, we are sleeping together, huh?" Manny smirked at Leah. "You know, you're a sleep-cuddler. The first time I woke up with you wrapped around me, all half-naked, well..." Manny grinned, shaking his head. "I was pretty surprised."