Thinslayer

Star Trader

Seriously, don't sweat the knife incident so much. I know how you feel - you're probably feeling like Sofie ruined the romance, or Ed overreacted, and you're trying to regain your footing. Really, there's no need to worry. I liked the knife scene! It peeled back the curtain a little on her background, while at the same time introducing more questions than it answers. What kind of life did she lead that could have made her that wary? Plus, having a frightened lady to protect offers Ed an excellent opportunity to win her heart. If he can show that she doesn't have to be afraid when she's around him, he's already halfway there.

I don't write my posts to make people regret the content they made. If there's a problem with a scene, we have the OOC thread for that. I'm here to make a story. Be true to your character, and don't look back except to make it your stepping stone on the way forward. When I write, I trust in that, in your characters staying true to who they are. I ask only that you trust me a little in return.

Star Trader

The Crescents established a strong system of law and order very quickly after the Revolution ended, so the nation Ed grew up with was a peaceful, law-abiding one. While most people have an armament of some sort, actually using it is an extremely rare event. He's trained in basic marksmanship, but being attacked with a knife is an utterly new experience for him, and he won't soon forget it. He knows no self-defense techniques, has no experience de-escalating deadly fights, and to top it off, he barely knows this girl and has no clue what she's capable of. He genuinely thought he was going to die. If he had been next to that door, he would have been stabbed for sure.

Her lack of restraint is the reason he doesn't trust her very much. The thought that he could get stabbed on accident just by being in unexpected places at unexpected times frightens him. Technically, he should have gone to the authorities, who could have arranged for Sofie to get professional help as well as ensure his safety, but...well, she's attractive, and he doesn't exactly want her to leave. Male hormones are definitely playing a part in his decision-making. :P

Plus, he's still curious about her, and like he said, he's prepared to give romance another shot with her. He just has to be more wary from now on until he can work out a way to make her feel safe (and thus not feel the need to barge into rooms with a knife).

Making his lady feel secure is one of the foremost duties of a man, no? ;)

Star Trader

Sofie didn't emit enough deception signals for Ed to recognize the lie. He did catch on from the gaze-aversion that she didn't completely believe her own statement, but he figured it for excessive modesty.

I can't be god-moding, after all, or the mind-games wouldn't be fun. >:)

Also, I declined to put a response hook on my post to give Sofie an opportunity to take initiative.

Star Trader

Sofie averted her eyes. "They run a small bakery. I'm here on a scholarship."

Is she...being too modest? Could it actually be a major bakery chain? Now curious, Ed decided to ask her about it when they were done cleaning. Once the rags went in the laundry basket and spray bottle in the cabinet, Ed shuffled to the bed and collapsed on it.

"Unnngh it feels so good..." he moaned. A moment later, he sniffled. "Eugh, too bad it stinks. I should do the linens too." Ed ripped the sheets off the beds and piled them over his arms. He gestured to the mattresses and asked, "Can you please spray those down with the cleaning spray while I take these to the laundry room? I'll be back in a minute."

Ed closed the door behind him and smiled. She's an interesting one. Maybe I should give her another chance, he mused as he navigated to the laundry room. Unbeknownst to him, another girl watched him from the shadows while he piled the linens into a washing machine. Ed loaded detergent and set it for an hour of heavy washing before returning to the room.

This time, he made sure to knock first. "It's me! Coming in." Once inside, he sat down against the side of the bed and closed his eyes.

"I think that's everything..."

Star Trader

Just thought of a way Sophie could return Ed's favor - drive off a predatory girl who's taken a fancy to him, just like how Ed drove off a predatory guy who took a fancy to her.

But we gotta get to the Star Trader meat soon. That's where things amp up. >:)

Star Trader

"Sophie Heichenback? Great name. My mom is a part-time Ambassador for the Empire, a "cushy job," as she puts it, though considering that she often leaves with a concealed weapom and comes back with mysterious holes in her uniform, I'd say she does more than that. Dad helps run the family business in her absence. I love 'em both to death."

He finished scrubbing the shower floor and removed the drain stopper. "Be right back."

He came back with a clean stopper and a disgusted expression. "You don't want to know what was on this thing. Anyway, what about your parents? What do they do?"

Star Trader

Ed resumed cleaning the shower grime. "So, Sophie, was it? What's your surname? Where are you from?

Star Trader

Ed's theory works like this: if he just forgives her and asks nothing of her, she'll feel like she owes him. A girl of her caliber would probably see that as a trap, since a person with ill will could do her a favor and expect to call in a favor from her that she wouldn't like very much. In order to avoid that trap, he needs to ask something from her to atone. Since he wants to spend time with her and get to know her, he can kill to birds with one stone by having her help him clean.

We'll say she finds another rag or something. They can share the spray bottle. :3

Star Trader

Sophie froze too. A moment later, she deposited her knife on a nearby shelf and pleaded, "I'm so sorry! I didn't realise! I...I thought you were someone else. I didn't know we had roommates!" She flushed as she scrambled for the dorm assignment paper. Seeing the truth for her own eyes, she apologized again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Ed exhaled and brought a hand to his chest. "Oh my gosh, I thought I was going to die. I was...just cleaning up the place. It's not- it's not a worthy abode yet."

He paused. While pure forgiveness was an appealing concept, people tended to be suspicious if no option for repayment was offered. She would have to make it up to him if he wanted her to feel on equal terms with him.

"Want to help me? I'm still a little winded from the fright you gave me."

Star Trader

Ed looked up from his cleaning to witness a lovely girl lunge inside, knife outstretched.

He froze.

"Sophie?"

Crud crud crud, this better not be the way I die! Please God don't kill me here. I'm not ready yet. I'm not ready. Crud crud crud... Ed gently set down the spray bottle and slowly got to his feet, hands raised. He kept the rag in case she attacked - it could be useful in a pinch. "I'm not an intruder, I swear. This is my dorm. Are you- are you my roommate?"