#tivik

[colleybri]

Which Rogue One characters should make an appearance in Andor Season 2 ?

^ Orson Krennic. Would be so great if we got a scene with him and… Partagaz? Dedra?!

Casting spoilers and speculation below…

Apart from Cassian, Mon, Melshi and Saw, we now know that K2SO is making his chronological debut, and we’re getting more Krennic. General Draven - Cassian’s commanding officer - can also be glimpsed in the D23 leaked trailer. Mads Mikkelsen is appearing at Star Wars Celebration 2025, fuelling speculation that Galen Erso might be in Season 2.

^ The wonderful Mads Mikkelsen as Galen Erso. I remember whimpering with joy when I first saw he was in this film.

My own point of view? I love Rogue One but I prefer Andor if forced to choose (though I’m excited by Diego Luna’s repeated assertions that after season 2, it will be like watching a completely different film ) and for that reason I don’t want any less screen time for my season 1 favourites. Especially those who I think still have a lot of growth/story to come: Syril, Mon, Bix and Vel. But seeing as the final arc happens merely days before Rogue One begins - and the final scene will literally be Cassian departing for the Ring of Kafrene to meet Tivik the informant - it makes sense for Tony Gilroy to enhance the links to the film.

There are some characters who I would like to see and some who it would make sense to be there. Bail Organa perhaps - he’s clearly known to Mon. Mon even knows about his links to Obi-Wan (“your friend - the Jedi”). He would be a good character to have at least in the background, as an explanation for an increasing awareness of the Force (even in an unlikely character such as Cassian) . Maybe. Not essential though, and I wouldn’t be fussed either way.

The characters who make most sense to me and who I would really like to see : Tivik and - IF we’re getting Galen - Bodhi Rook. Tivik because Cassian clearly knows him and has met him before. An appearance by him – especially if we see the sister that Cassian and Jyn were supposed to be meeting with on Jedha - could add a lot of weight to the scene where… Cassian is forced to off him. You know, deliberately depriving a sister of her brother and all that. What with his own history. And there goes another little sliver of his soul…(This is one of the scenes that Tony Gilroy added in the reshoots in order to enhance the sacrifice theme.)

^ Alas, poor Tivik. With that great big red flag of a wounded arm . Among the all-time greats of “Characters who were unceremoniously shot dead by Cassian Andor”.

I love the film, but the opening 20 minutes or so is pretty confusing and fast moving and we’re given no explanation about why Galen trusted Bodhi enough to give him the hologram message for Saw. This is my biggest personal wish. I would really love to see a scene between Galen and Bodhi. To find out a bit more about this relationship and how it was built up. Bodhi obviously has a great deal of affection and respect for Galen. It doesn’t need to be much or long, but I think it would really enhance the film.

Bodhi Rook - arguably Rogue One’s least developed main character. Could Andor’s final arc do something about that?

Jyn Erso? With apologies to my Rebelcaptain-loving friends, I can’t realistically imagine a scene where Cassian is staring at her hologram image, simply because that wouldn’t happen before the Rogue One Tivik scene - the Alliance only then start looking for her as a possible way to track down Galen and gain safe access to Saw. But there is a hope that she might pop up at least as a mention in any Galen and Bodhi scene, or perhaps via Saw - who looked after her all those years. Maybe even Luthen knows about her in some way from that time.

^ Jyn Erso - might we get a mention or even a glimpse?

For the same reason, I don’t think we’ll see anything of Baze or Chirrut - it makes sense for their first appearance to be in the film.

One more wishlist request from me. Bor Gullet. The alien who works for Saw as a mind-reader. I would really like a little backstory there. No, really. I’m fascinated. (Might Bor even be retconned as a surviving Dizonite?!)

^ Bor Gullet will know your thoughts! The unfortunate side-effect is that one tends to lose one’s mind.. (though not for very long, apparently!)

Over to you. Re-blog or comment with your wish list.

I have a feeling we’re going to love you all over again, K2!

[sydneyadmu]

a few days before cassian met tivik in the rings of kafrene, he had to rush from corulag after getting some ambiguous information from him

tivik is the one who went to jedha and got the info about bodhi, the death star and galen’s involvement. cassian already knew his name and the whole thing is called a puzzle. a puzzle that the rebel alliance was trying to finish for a while

the alliance was gathering intelligence on this topic for we don’t know how long (but these things take time), but some pieces were missing. they were found in the beginning of rogue one, with tivik, bodhi and jyn.

oh… and remember that I mentioned corulag? there’s someone who might have been the key to get the vital information about all this and was arrested in this same planet just months before

[rogueonebrackets]

Rogue One Costume Contest - Round One

Who shows up to the Halloween party in a better costume?

[jaqobis]

sometimes i remember all over again that tivik was headed back to jedha and even if he'd survived and gotten off kafrene somehow he would've been dead by death star in a couple of days anyway

[jeckilon]

we cant even have fun and be delusional in peace because here comes an an*** stan trying to tell us about the pre rogue one timeline as if we haven’t been thinking about it for 7 years now

[eruden-writes]

Intentions - Part 1 (alien x human)

Summary: In the future, humans are nearly universal surrogates and Earth has taken to profiting off the ability. However, while humans can intermix with aliens, it doesn't mean it's without complications.

When Taliyra signed up to be a Companion to an alien, she had expectations. Mainly a lot of sex in an attempt to conceive an alien baby. What she didn't expect was her counterpart to be so distant and - for lack of a better term - relatively hands off. For all intents and purposes, Khravel seems completely disinterested in her and will not hold a discussion to explain why.

After four months of this behavior, she's had enough. Confronting Khravel, she gives him an ultimatum: either he sits down and talks with her about what the problem is or she's going back to Proxypanion and requesting a transfer.

---

Next - Master List

Night had fallen on the planet Tivik-4 and, with it, a knot of apprehension rose in Taliyra’s throat. She waited in her quarters for Khravel to show his face, even though his appearances were sporadic at best. The uncertainty, the waiting, made her skin itch with nerves. In the early days, she had found it difficult to sit still when evening fell. Now, she forced herself to remain seated in her chair, focused on her reading tablet.

It was these moments when her comfortable room felt so large, so empty. It was like any other personal chambers in the building, from what Taliyra had seen of other people’s living spaces. Though there was an office wing, where Khravel and his colleagues did most of their work, from what she could tell.

Her quarters had a sitting room for entertaining, decked out with sofa and chairs. A large screen overset in a false fireplace. A guest bathroom and kitchenette led off from the sitting area and, opposite those, the door to her room. Opposite the entryway, a sliding door led to a balcony that oversaw a park. During the day, the park was full of Tivikonians, a variety of immigrated aliens, and Terrans. At this time of night, with the sun setting and darkness encroaching over the red-orange trees, very few dallied at the park.

When she accepted a role as a contracted companion, she thought every night would be a sex marathon. Not hours of waiting to see if her alien counterpart would even show up. Khravel was a high-ranking official among his people. Taliyra even being there was meant to convince other Tivikonians to take on Terran Companions in an effort to aid a flagging population.

Due to his social importance, he was very, very busy. Or so he had told her repeatedly.

Not that she was looking forward to being used over and over in an attempt to create an alien baby, of course. Working with the ProxyPanion company had been a last resort to get out of debt. However, four months of basically being ignored was wearing on her pride. Plus, if she did end up clinching the deal and ending up pregnant, the bonus would pay for all her family’s debt. Her parents, her grandparents, her siblings, and more. While the possibility of Tivikonians and Terrans having a successful reproduction was low – the reason for the huge bonus if Taliyra managed it – her odds were even lower if Khravel rarely came around.

Despite the inconsistent interactions between herself and Khravel, she still dressed for the part. Which meant a lot of flowing, easy to move, gauzy fabric and no underwear. It had been difficult to get used to the semi-transparent clothes. She was a larger woman than the average Terran, so she had much more skin to account for. But being on Tivik, where many humans and Tivikonians alike wore this gauzy fabric, had made her grow accustomed to the fashion choice. No one seemed to care what she or anyone else had on display, anyhow. Not that she was large among the aliens.

She still wore a bra, keeping her ample bosom secured if high on her chest, and underthings when out in public. Though she’d seen others, Terran and Tivikonian, wear nothing under the semi-sheer fabric.

A chime echoed through her room, drawing her gaze from the tablet she had barely been reading for the last twenty minutes. Setting the screen aside, she got to her feet and went to the door. Pressing her hand to the panel, it slid open, revealing Khravel.

As far as extraterrestrials were concerned, Khravel was not far from humanoid in a Biblically accurate being sort of way. Smooth face, almost akin to a mask, given texture by striating lines that fanned from his eyes. Taliyra had learned to read the expression in the striations that fanned out from his eyes. The lines weren’t too dissimilar from human eyebrows. Four red eyes, two on each side. A wide mouth that cut like a crevice along the lower half of his face and a dark line that split from his lower ‘lip’ down his throat. Thick flat horns sprouted out from the sides and crown of his head, white fading to red.

Unlike many other Tivikonians, he wore opaque and dark clothes. He wore the seemingly space-mandatory bodysuits, with a sleeveless jacket cinched at his waist. The boots he wore went to his knees but would have easily engulfed Taliyra’s leg up to the highest point of her thigh. Taller than any other Tivikonian that Taliyra had seen, he was not the bulkiest. Though that wasn’t saying much to human notions of large, with his towering nine foot height and four dreadfully well-shaped arms. Well-shaped arms that ended in enticing hands with five elegant long fingers. Taliyra often caught herself staring at those broad hands.

“Ah, you’re still awake.” He sounded disappointed, red eyes crinkled at the corners in an expression Taliyra had come to consider a wince.

Khravel would not deny he struggled around the woman. She was larger than his last human Companion, which was a relief. Humans were notoriously frail. But it made him want to touch her all the more. Run his hands over those plush curves, watch as her skin dipped to his touch. Even her face was round and, when she smiled – a rare occasion when he was present – little dips formed at the corners of her lips. Dimples, he’d been told they were called.

Tonight, she was dressed in a gauzy gown sans underthings with her dark hair pulled into a bun atop her head. Khravel focused on her face, rather than letting his gaze dip over the rolling hills of her body, her dusky nipples, the swell of her breasts, her hips, her stomach. Her nightly fashion starkly contrasted to the outfits she styled for day-time use. She’d it was to make the process easier when he visited at night. Less clothing made getting to the sex simpler.

The thought left a bad taste in his mouth. As if she wanted to get the ordeal over with and get on with her day or night.

Taliyra swallowed down the ping of pain his words sent through her by leaning against the door frame and crossing her arms. “Yep, still awake.”

The two stood there, staring at each other as the tension in the air climbed higher. Khravel’s hands flexed at his sides. A common tic she’d notice whenever he was thinking. Was he trying to come up with an excuse to leave? Probably.

Khravel sifted through the reasons to leave. He did have paperwork to finish up and an agreement to review. The budget needed tweaking, as well, to move some funds to the disaster relief efforts in the East hemisphere. He couldn’t bring himself to mention any of those things now, though. Not with Taliyra’s dark eyes watching him, not with her scent wafting from her quarters.

“Well, let’s get on with it,” he finally said, after being unable to come up with a reason to leave. The nerves under his skin felt buzzy and agitated, but he clamped down on the sensation. He was going to be careful, as he always was with Taliyra.

“We don’t have to, if you don’t want to,” she sighed, not moving from her position in the door. She’d rather he not even make an appearance if he was going to act so unwilling. It wasn’t as if he was the one contracted out, after all.

Kharvel inclined his head, a stillness overtaking his posture. “Do you not want to do this?”

A flare of heat burst up her spine, her cheeks reddening. This was her job! It wasn’t a matter of ‘want’ for her. She had to perform to a certain degree to be compensated. Though she had wanted more from Khravel. Something more… satisfying than what he gave her during these nights. “I didn’t say that.”

“Then…” He made a motion with his hand, indicating the bedroom. That awkward stillness still cramped up his motions as he watched the Terran woman carefully.

Taliyra’s lips thinned, her eyes flicking from the bedroom to Kharvel. She gave him one last chance to bow out and forget this meeting even happened. He merely stood, waiting for her to move. He could have easily shoved her away or even picked her up, but he didn’t. In fact, he rarely touched her and when he did, it was the briefest of contact.

The knot in her throat hadn’t dissipated with his presence. It just grew. She ignored the sensation as she stepped back, motioning for Khravel to enter. His boots clacked on the floor as he crossed the threshold. The door hissed shut behind him and, once more, the two stared at each other.

Taliyra was the first to turn away and head for her bedroom. After a breath, she heard Kharvel follow, his feet dragging. She wished he wouldn’t act like a man headed to the gallows.

---

Next - Master List

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[andorerso]

I'll be real, I don't think it makes much sense for Cassian to only start looking into Jyn after the meeting with Tivik. I mean yes, the timeline of Rogue One in general isn't 100% clear, but Cassian has already known about Galen when Tivik mentioned his name to him, which leads me to believe they already had some kind of intel about Project Stardust and that Galen was involved in it. which in turn makes me think they were likely already looking at Jyn as a possible mark. not to mention that Bodhi was already on Jedha when the meeting with Tivik happened, and since I don't think that much time passed between that and Jyn and Cassian going to Jedha, Jyn had to have been rescued from Wobani around the same time. and honestly, I don't think Cassian could have put together her file and found her that quickly.

is it possible? technically yes. but I find it far more believable that Jyn was already in the picture when the Kafrene meeting happened.

there's also this from the novelization:

they know about Galen. they know about Saw. there's no reason they wouldn't already be looking into Jyn, the girl who connects them both. just as a precaution - even if they aren't yet sure she's important.

[andorology]

cassian: *does the most screwed up shit ever by killing tivik in cold blood*

me: i want him

[buckybarnesss]

if andor is cassian’s eulogy with a theme song that is a funeral dirge than luthen’s speech isn’t only about luthen himself but cassian’s perspective of himself looking back at his life on the cusp of his death.

he made his mind a sunless place and is damned for what he does because there is no escape from the path he has always been on. every step, every choice will always lead to scarif. where he will lay down his life, let his future burn for a victory he will never see. what did cassian andor sacrifice? 

calm (there is no peace for cassian andor)

kinship (the search for kerri. he sent his friends away to safety before turning himself over to luthen).

kindness (he kills tivik at the start of rogue one and it haunts him. he plans to follow through with assassinating galen erso and it shakes him)

love (whatever he and jyn could’ve had can never be explored, can never be brought to fruition because the rebellion comes first and they will die for the cause). 

he gives everything to rebellion. 

[the-border-outpost]

Thane is a soldier, not a hunter! This particular Buffalo Beetle has escaped with its life, Thane a bit bruised and embarrassed by his failure. It looks like another night of a small bit of their stew. The whole pack is hungry, but the more frustrated they get, the more clumsy they get in hunting. They have tivik back at the outpost, but tivik are small, and the eggs they produce are definitely helpful for protein. Eating the tivik would mean no more eggs. There's enough for each of the Warbred to have a couple eggs and a little of their stew.

[space-blue]

“It’s a big day for Luthen. When he’s listening to Maarva’s speech, it’s not pride of ownership on his part … but it’s another corner of the farm he’s trying to grow. So he’s very proud when he hears that,” Gilroy tells The Hollywood Reporter. “And my God, to finish up the day and have this new asset [Cassian] walk in [who] is now basically saying, ‘Alright, I’m in. Blood oath,’ that’s a pretty good day, I think.”

Why does she still go through with the Sculdun (Richard Dillane) family arrangement if she already planted that gambling-related cover story?

She’s just trying to cover all the tracks. Sculdun originally came in and said, “Oh, I know your husband.” So, in the end, Sculdun probably thinks that this is really about her husband’s gambling debts. He doesn’t know what the real purposes are. But what I’m saying there is that she’s just covering all the bases. If anybody comes looking, if anybody’s wondering why she might be borrowing money or if Sculdun is wondering why she might be borrowing money, she can lay it off on poor Peerin [Alastair Mackenzie].

In RogueOne, Cassian goes to the Ring of Kafrene to meet Tivik, who is from Saw’s group, and he says, “Oh my God, it’s a planet killer.” Cassian knows some shit, but he’s looking for answers. So we’ll [cover] the breadcrumbs that lead up to that, sure. But we have a situation where Cassian will never know that what he was building is actually the machine that’s going to kill him.

You began the series with Cassian asking about his sister, and then Maarva later tried to discourage him from looking any further. So will that thread be pulled on again at some point?

That’s TBD. I don’t want to get out in front of that question.

[notasapleasure]

EastEnders run (2000-2001), Part 3/4

Warnings if you’re not keen on big shouty men, Beppe flips out in this and I took a lot of screencaps.

---

Ok I did read the character summary so I know roughly what's coming now, but here goes! Last three episodes of those he's in for a few months - expect some drama! What's Sandra going to decide??

9 October 2000

Noooo, that youtube video is just the October 5 episode again :(

10 October 2000

Breakfast time at Sandra and Beppe's. Beppe wants to take her up to Leicester to see his family - the source of the original breakup (apparently they didn't like her for not being Italian) - but Sandra is cagey and heads out to work.

Guess who's on her doorstep, as usual?

He claims it's the only way he can get in touch with her and makes the usual ultimatum! He's leaving Thursday - she says she'll call him later...

The background music continues to deal me psychic damage. Tom Jones' Sex Bomb playing in the pub while Peggy acts heartbroken over Frank's spinning bow tie 🙃

Laura joking about kidnapping Ian's kids in (apparently) very poor taste but it's emphasising the subliminal messaging acting on Sandra, innit? She's worried that if she runs off with Joe though it'll be held against her in terms of custody. This is why ultimatums aren't helpful, young Mr Robbins!

Also once more, pleasantly surprised by the way Frank and Pat's affair gets into the effects of that on the friendship between Peggy and Pat - she's already lonely because of Frank, and now her best friend isn't in a position to support her because she's also hiding things.

Anyway, Beppe's being a dear about this trip to Leicester and talking about taking Joe horse riding. Do they have horse riding in Bristol, hm?

I should probably warn anyone tempted to watch these that Barry is on a strictly enforced diet and his wife is an asshole about making him stick to it. Could be triggering for anyone with issues around food.

Ian unhelpfully gives Sandra Thursday and Friday off for a trip to Leicester when Beppe asks him for her.

LMAOOO Tivik (the guy with the bust arm who Cassian shoots in Rogue One, played by Daniel Mays) has chained himself to the Slaters' gate because he loves Kat, and swallowed the key to his padlock. Among the audience he's drawn, Sandra asks what his problem is, and Beppe says "Some guys don't know what it's over." Oh ho ho ho...

Sandra's still trying to get out of going to Leicester on Thursday - she offers to bring Joe on the train on Friday pm and Beppe agrees. She asks Ian not to mention that she still wants Thursday off...

Today we have shouty Jack >:(

He goes on and on in the usual bloody way until he makes Sandra cry. You can see why the Met Police hired him 🙄

Then after all the shouting he goes all quiet and soft of course, and when Sandra says he can come to the house on Thursday because Beppe will be away he has the cheek to ask gently "Are you sure this is what you want?"

16 October 2000

DRAMA TIME

Sandra tells Beppe she's leaving. She says she can't keep pretending that she loves him (which is a contradiction of what she told Jack in the first episode)

Uh oh, Beppe heads outside "You're not taking my son!"

Jack pops out of the car 😬😬😬

"You call me mate when you sleep wiv my wife??" Classic EastEnders

Ok, I did my best with the screenshots, but apologies still

Intricate rituals....

Bless him, Jack gets a punch in but it's a 'restrain the arrestee' kind of punch not the brawling Beppe's good at. Beppe isn't taking this well at all. "I thought you were my friend?!"

That’s right, protect your face love!!!

There's an audience of course.

Sonya: "Should I call the police?"

Mo: "From what I heard, they are the police!"

Robbie's not confident he can break up this uh. Street fight on his own.

Mark gets Beppe to break it up because Sandra and Joe are watching.

Beppe grabs Joe and takes him inside.

Joe doesn't seem all that happy, and Beppe won't pick up the phone to Sandra (with grumpy Jack in the background). He is feeling guilty af though. And Laura's helping. Donkey Kong therapy :')

Laura's too good for this world - truly, she suggests Beppe talk things through! As if anyone has ever done that on EastEnders dkskjssjsjfff omg he does try it! Genuinely, Beppe is the better person at the point.

Oh goooodddd the locals are all on open-season bitch-fest about Sandra and Jack now D:

Jack thinks Sandra's letting Beppe call all the shots. He's so awful :')

"I don't remember inviting you."

"You didn't."

My god if the big dick swinging ego of these two idiots was spread evenly through the population we'd have no impostor syndrome left in the world.

Beppe finally gets the truth about how Sandra and Jack lived together for years.

(ah teen romance soundtracked by 5ive - Until the Time is Through *stares into the camera with a weak laugh*)

Now it's Beppe's turn to be a little bitch too

Ugh god I have such mixed emotions about Jack looking so protective while Sandra recounts her miscarriage woes again

Jack says a month or so later she up and left :(

Beppe: "She's good at that." But he does seem to understand...

Beppe: "It's all been about Joe, ain't it?"

Sandra: "No..."

Jack: "Uh, yeah!"

Beppe, who raised Joe alone after Sandra left him, is understandably dubious about Joe having a better family life with them.

Jack is wearing the ultimate 'no fucks given, no regrets' expression

"I'm so glad you can't have any more kids coz you don't deserve the one you've got!" Stay classy Beppe.

Sandra's had enough and Jack invokes the courts.

"And when we come back, we're taking Joe with us!"

---

End of Part 3. Wow, Jack is really not boyfriend material! :’) But then again, the narrative of EastEnders doesn’t really take a moral standpoint and everyone’s behaved pretty stupidly badly. Read on to find out how things can be resolved in a(n ir)rational world!

[rogueonebrackets]

Rogue One Brawling Tournament - Round One

No weapons allowed! Who'd win in a fight?

[jaqobis]

speaking of tivik

oh my god i did not realize earlier that cassian's contact among saw's people who "has just gone missing" WAS TIVIK

not only did cassian casually lie to jyn about what happened to him, but he really sought out tivik's sister with every intention of looking her in the eye and lying about her brother's death and, hey, can you put in a word for him with saw gerrera? thanks

my mans was not about to let his haunting guilt get in the way of the cause

[jeckilon]

the rogue one novel talks soooo much about cassian leaving people behind and sometimes even killing people (like tivik) I hope that one show does the bare minimum to at least keep his arc true to that part of himself since they dgaf about the rest lol

[eruden-writes]

Intentions - Part 3 (alien x human)

Summary: In the future, humans are nearly universal surrogates and Earth has taken to profiting off the ability. However, while humans can intermix with aliens, it doesn’t mean it’s without complications.

When Taliyra signed up to be a Companion to an alien, she had expectations. Mainly a lot of sex in an attempt to conceive an alien baby. What she didn’t expect was her counterpart to be so distant and - for lack of a better term - relatively hands off. For all intents and purposes, Khravel seems completely disinterested in her and will not hold a discussion to explain why.

After four months of this behavior, she’s had enough. Confronting Khravel, she gives him an ultimatum: either he sits down and talks with her about what the problem is or she’s going back to Proxypanion and requesting a transfer.

---

First - Previous - Next

---

Taking another deep breath, Khravel pushed off from the wall and made his way back to his quarters. He tried to turn his mind toward his work; political machinations, moving finances, potential hiccups in the day-to-day life of the planet. A nagging itch still prickled beneath his fore-thoughts, faint memories of Taliyra’s gasps and movements, the brief feel of her against him, her pleading. His partially sated need sparked through him, already wanting more, but he silenced it.

He was determined not to hurt Taliyra, or anyone, the way he had hurt Avry. And that was the end of it.

—

“Miss Deyva, what a surprise! What brings you to the office wing?” The Tivikonian receptionist roused Taliyra from her mental psyche-up as she approached Khravel’s office. She paused right in front of the reception desk, blinking as she looked to Mx. E’verra.

Unlike the homier styles of the residential wing, the business wing served explicitly functionality. Tall windows lined many of the walls, overlooking the surrounding city and beyond. Constant reminders of what everyone within those walls were working to protect. Screens interspersed on the walls, rotating information including project timelines, schedules, upcoming public events, and accolades for particular employees.

Taliyra had barely realized she had gotten so close – to the point where she had to be buzzed in by the receptionist – since she was going over her script to Khravel.

Focusing on E’verra, she realized they smiled at her in a tense and confused sort of way. Right, she couldn’t just waltz into his workspace. He could be taking a video call or overlooking confidential documentation. The receptionist was sweet and well-mannered, in Taliyra’s experience, though prone to anxiety and stress. Their four hands fidgeted as they stared at her, projecting their numerous worries through actions.

“I’m sorry, I was deep in thought,” Taliyra sighed and shook her head, rubbing her temple. That morning, she had already spent time journey to and discussing options with a case manager at the ProxyPanion office on Tivik. Her mind still sloshed with the details and new questions that the meeting had presented. One thing had not changed. “I need to meet with Khravel.”

“Oh! Delegate Iedro has a meeting in about forty-five minutes, but I’m sure he can squeeze you in before then.” Something in Mx. E’verra loosened and, though their expression waffled between surprised interest to uncertainty, it did settle into something akin to decisiveness. Scurrying back to their desk, they hit a button. The doorway in front of Taliyra buzzed, before humming open. “Go ahead. Three doors down and to the right.”

With a grateful smile to Mx. E’verra, Taliyra strode through the doorway and down the hall. She hadn’t expected it to be difficult to gain access to the more restricted areas. The knowledge she was Khravel’s Companion was well-known and their arrangement gave them much leeway. Which was likely why so many emotions had fluttered over E’verra’s face before letting her through.

It wasn’t long before she found Khravel’s door, his name displayed on the inlaid screen. Beneath his name, the words ‘available’ flickered in various languages. Taliyra hit the touchpad by his door, requesting entry. She held her breath for a second, before another buzz answered and the door slid open.

As Taliyra stepped over the threshold, she eyed his office. It was a large room with a high ceiling and dangling lights. His desk sat at the far end, right in front of a huge shelf inlaid into the wall. Knickknacks, memorabilia, moving photographs, and more filled the shelves. But it was all organized clutter. The whole place was clean, save for his desk where multiple tablets were strewn, along with a huge-to-humans coffee cup. And it infuriatingly smelled like him. She hadn’t quite nailed down the aroma, but it reminded her of coffee and something rich, deep, heady.

Khravel himself sat at ease, his body leaning toward the right where an elbow braced his wait on the chair arm. His other right hand pressed to the side of his face as his upper-left held the tablet and lower-left tapped a rhythm on the other armchair. He was angled in such a way, she could see his long legs were crossed one over the other.

He didn’t even look up from whatever he was reviewing. “Yes?”

Squeezing her hands tighter together, Taliyra willed her voice to remain steady. “I need to talk to you.”

He was not expecting her, of all people. Khravel’s reaction was automatic. His body stilled in such a way, it was as if he was instantly paralyzed from her very words. After a breath, his eyes angled toward her though the rest of him did not move. “What?”

“I need to talk to you,” Taliyra repeated, her hands still folded in front of her. Straightening her back and rooting her stance, his reaction only solidified her resolve.

“It couldn’t wait until later?” He still didn’t move, though he did set his tablet aside. His brain was having a difficult time processing this turn of events. Taliyra was here. This was not her quarters. This was his office. He had a job to do, but she was here. And that stirred something sharp and hot deep within his loins.

Fuck, he had played himself, hadn’t he? He’d conditioned his body to rouse whenever she was around and now that’s how it reacted in her very presence. Even in his office.

“No, it cannot wait,” she bit out the words, though her tone remained professional.

Khravel’s jaw worked back and forth as he and Taliyra locked gazes. He could just send her away, tell her not to bother him during his work time. It would have been that simple. But she set her jaw and leered at him with such determined fire, it was hard not to crumple beneath the look. Heaving a sigh, he grudgingly waved a hand toward the empty chair across from his desk. “What is it?”

Taliyra remained standing, hands still folded in front of her. “I spoke with the local ProxyPanion office, requesting a re-assignment.”

His eyes widened a sliver, but he didn’t say anything. He knew she had gone to the office, simply due to the security detail he had following her whenever she went out, but he’d assumed it was a typical check-in. However, unlike her casual wear or even the nightly gauzy dress, she currently sported a three-piece navy blue dress suit, with deep blue blazer, vest, and skirt coupled with a white button-up. Whatever she had discussed with ProxyPanion representatives, it was not some idling updates.

For the life of him, he couldn’t not imagine how it’d feel to pop the buttons off her vest and blouse, hike her skirt high as he bent her over a desk. Like his body, Khravel clamped down on those thoughts, refusing to let them get further.

“They’ve filed my complaint and said to give them an update in two months. If nothing changes, if I have the same complaints, then they will be reassigning me elsewhere.” She barreled on as guilt pinged through her, watching Khravel’s reaction. Too fucking bad, another part of her thought. He brought this on himself. Which turned her thoughts, and words, toward a curious path. “However, this is the second time a Companion has been reassigned under you which is not a good look for Tivik. According to the representative I spoke to.”

He’d never told her about Avry. He’d assumed Taliyra was simply told. It would make sense to prepare a Companion before shipping them off to an alien planet, right? Judging from her suspicious look, that was not the case. The fact she was his second Companion, and he was one of the few to spearhead Companion industry on Tivik, made his failure with Avry burn all the hotter.

If he lost Taliyra, he would still have a third chance, but after that… well, he’d have to reapply for consideration. Since he was a higher-up, him losing the permission to have a Companion could paint the whole planet poorly. All current Companions on the planet could be revoked. It had happened to other planets, after all. Khravel held himself still again, his mind battling carnal reactions while trying to figure out the best conclusion to this interaction.

“This leads me to believe you are particularly terrible at sex and need lessons or something else is going on here.” Taliyra narrowed her eyes, frustrated at his lack of reaction. Shaking her head, knowing her own anger got the best of her with her earlier words, she sighed, “Either way, we have two months to fix this.”

“What exactly are your complaints?” His fingers returned to tapping, although it was a heavier agitated drum this time. He couldn’t help but stare at her in that dress suit, see himself unbuttoning the vest or hiking that skirt up. An unhelpful path of thought. It wasn’t going to aid him. He tried to shove it aside, only to be met with more intense images of popping the buttons from her blouse and bending her over his very desk.

“The sex is unenjoyable and you refuse to communicate with me.” The heat was rising in the room and she couldn’t be bothered to soften her accusations. The steady way he watched her aggravated her, while simultaneously making her lower tummy tighten. Instead, she raised her wrist and typed in a communique to Khravel on her tech gauntlet. Sending over the data the ProxyPanion office has given her, she asserted, “Research on the efficacy of surrogates between Terran and non-Terrans tend to highlight how enjoyable relations tend to beget better results.”

Khravel’s own wrist tech pinged in response, receiving the data she had sent. However, he didn’t even look at it. He just steadily stared at her, his jaw tight. Bruised ego and guilt threaded through his thoughts, but his words took on a harsher edge as he asked, “Do you believe barging into my office, during my workday, to accuse me of being bad at sex was your best option?”

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