Ask Catfish out of water

[Talohn Atar]

"You not read for amusement on occassion? Only serious reading? Sounds boring. Having laugh time is important." The cathar nods sagely to himself. The cathar were a joyous folk. Or at least they tried to be. Due to his clan's every day survival struggles, reading sometimes served as a way to comfort oneself. Tales of old, fiction and nonfiction, were sources of equal relief and intrigue.

Talohn's eyebrows raise as Zlova's arms go about his shoulders to pull him closer. A slightly nervous chuckle leaves him as their eyes meet. "Do not worry. Is hard to forget." From there, it would be a few quiet moments of awkwardly staring into eachother's eyes until Zlova lets him go, and he strides on ahead of her. Well, the stare wasn't completely awkward. It's obvious the cathar finds her attractive in some way, but it was definitely an awkward position to suddenly be in. One thing was certain, fear wasn't a part of the reason he pulled away from her. At least, not a fear of her sithlike strength.

"You make fair point. However, doubting you will run into trouble. Will tell fellow clan members to tread careful." he reassures her once more. the embarassment he'd feel on behalf of his people if one of the denizens of his home tree harassed her. The thought made him shudder.

As she told him the lightsaber is for convenience, he looks back at her, a brow raised. "Well aware you can do plenty damage without saber. You carry such fact in way you walk....Can kill kiltik with bare hands myself when needed too...But you really wish to touch kiltik with bare hands? Is very gross." He sticks his tongue out in a disgusted expression. "Slimy Chiton." He hisses slightly.

He nods in confirmation to her question. "Yes. Massive beetles in massive hordes. Sometimes mantislike instead of beetle. Have spent whole life fighting them with spear and bow. Sometimes cycler rifle." His eyes rest on the silver glint of his blaster. "Excited to test out weapon from wider galaxy on kiltik. Going to cover beetle in holes."

 

[Zlova Rue]

The Twi'lek gave the Cathar a toothy grin from behind at his concern for his fellow clan members. Trouble? Her? Well, people needed to learn sooner than later not to get into trouble they can't handle. At least Zlova wasn't likely to massacre an entire clan over the smallest slight. Might not even kill a single person. Might maim them. Just a little. The best lessons left their mark.

Laughter followed Talohn's recounting of the local Beetle Menace. "If I'm in the mood, I don't mind bathing in the blood of my enemies. Can't say I'd find much interest in a mindless insect though. A lightsaber would do..." Zlova lifted a hand and focused on levitating a fallen tree trunk off to one side. "Then again..." Golden eyes narrowed for a moment as a chorus of cracks and pops filled the air until a thunderclap of the trunk snapping in two erupted. "There's that."

"If it's weapons you're after, there's plenty. Enough to lay waste to your Beetles. They make them so large they could slice the top off a mountain, if you have the creds for it." Not that she expected Talohn needed that much firepower to protect his clan, but the man had shown a resistance to being overwhelmed so far. Yes, the Cat had a distinctly Whelmed Psyche. Most perturbing for a Sith not to get a rise out of people just by existing.

"Speaking of which," Zlova eyed the man's back, "what do you plan to do after the job here?" She had a number of plans for him, but what was it on his mind? He didn't intended to loiter on this planet, she hoped.

@Talohn Atar

 

[Talohn Atar]

As they trek through the grass of the plains, he listens to her speak. It's not until he hears the creaking of wood that he turns about to face her. His eyes widen slightly as the trunk lifts off of the ground, warping and cracking until it finally breaks in two. Whether he was shocked or intimidated, he didn't let the feeling hold onto him for long. "Y0u really not want to do that with kiltik. Slimy insides. Goes everywhere. Would even go far enough as say that getting cover in regular blood more tolerable." He shivers at the thought of washing kiltik organs out of his fur.

Talohn tilts his head in curiosity. "Creds....short for credit? Is...currency, yes? Currency for universe? Big weapon sound interesting. More excited to see universe though." He nods to himself before continuing his trek through the field after their brief log breaking distraction. The cathar was indeed a very whelmed person, though he had a distinct curiosity as well. In a way, his temperament seemed similar to a lot of felinoid species throughout the galaxy, sentient or not. Calm yet curious, with a latent capacity for intimidating rage.

The cathar looks back at her as she once again asks him that question. A slight grin spreads across his features. "Is second time you have asked me this, Warrior Rue. Have already stated plans. Am beginning to think that you more interested in getting me off of world than me. Why would such thing be, hm?" He asks, his tone smug and ever so slightly teasing.

Whether she responds or not, he continues his trek toward the tree. As they get closer, a wooden lift controlled by a rope pulley system at the base of the tree slowly becomes more visible. Other members Talohn's clan can be seen climbing the tree. The lift, as was being evidenced by the large bags being taken up to span of the tree, seemed to be for the delivery of heavier objects.

@Zlova Rue

 

[Zlova Rue]

The red woman shrugged. "There's more to this reality than you Cathar know. You can claim to be uninterested or content, but every soul has a motivating desire. Most people keep their dreams small. Isolated. Most people lack the power to break free of their constraints. You, Talohn, are not most people." If he was the Cat-man would have had a far less "enjoyable" experience with a Sith Warrior for a chaperone.

Zlova snorted at the sight of the tree. More at the way the Cathar scaled it. Admittedly, it was mildly impressive. Most societies had been born into a world full of automation that lifted the burden of manual effort from their shoulders. Even Sith made use of it when such labor was nothing but toil. These felines, however, had not succumb to the conveniences of the galaxy. Perhaps they wouldn't be as milquetoast as most other species -- that would be pleasant. Dangerous -- for them -- but pleasant.

"If you're thinking of taking the lift to spare me: don't. On the other hand, if you want to make sure your cargo arrives safely, I'll stay with you." Best to be clear if scaling the tree would be expected to retain face, Zlova was prepared to do just that. On the other hand, if Talohn's culture expected him to ride the lift she'd do the same. Wouldn't do to make him lost face with his guest doing more work than him. At least that was what she expected would be the case, having no actual practical knowledge of these people or their ways.

@Talohn Atar

 

[Talohn Atar]

"Is more to reality than anyone know. Breaking chains only require that you become content with fact that you not know everything....embracing unknown more effective than shying from it." The cathar states, his wisdom almost sagelike for but a few moments. He looks back at her as she says he's not like most people, a brow arching. "Not like most? You presume much only after few hours together. I that distinct of character?"

As they both look up the length of the tree, Talohn responds to her. "We both go on lift. Will see why momentarily." As they approach the guard that's by the lift, Talohn gives him a friendly wave. The guard, a dark brown furred fellow with intense green eyes, dressed in armor made from black chiton, squints. He didn't seem enraged by Zlova's presence, but it was indeed unusual. The two begin speaking to eachother in their native tongue as Talohn approaches.

"Sha vas tak erro'neli?" The brown furred one questions, his tone curious yet cautious.

Talohn waves a hand, as if to dismiss his concerns while responding to him. "Ena ii enka'ri sko niekto. Bez tak bali tras raj rei hnirezrap chast tia yne an sudta re." He's obviously excited about what he's saying. It wasn't every day they met a warrior from space after all.

The guard looks momentarily baffled before recovering. He points at the sky as he speaks, making sure he heard his fellow greyish furred cathar correctly. "Niekto? Tiltil srd errol vysok? S' ena vayu tras scaa lulat 's ved irhifie?"

Talohn nods in confirmation. The guard's gaze then drifts to Zlova for a moment. He stares at her ponderously before finally talking to Talohn once more. "Ena nema sám. Re gi'az nei'kam tak hurelo ztrivo . Stado'ri ay lolzyr a' sana ii stni lêei ko peup sireo'ap." After speaking, he pulls out a horn made from a bug mandible and blows into it, sounding off some sort of signal. He then gestures for them both to get on the lift.

Talohn bows his head respectfully. "Ra ozrelu ot." He then steps onto the lift, awaiting Zlova to get on as well. Once the lift begins going up, cathar from everywhere on the tree begin gathering around on the branches and platforms that the lift passes by. Due to it being dawn, their eyes glow ever so slightly in the shadows. All eyes were on Zlova. Now she would see why the lift was necessary. It served as a welcoming mat. It allowed all those that were curious to see who was visiting, but also informed the visitor of their numbers. A threat should she do anything to hurt them...that also served as a warm welcome. These tribals, philosophy wise, were quite a bit smarter than one would think.

@Zlova Rue

 

[Zlova Rue]

Damn Cat sounded too much like a Jedi. Be content with your lot. Know that you do not know. And what the kark were you supposed to do with that? Zlova was well aware of things she didn't know and sought to fill in the gaps in subjects that mattered to her. That wasn't the galaxy's greatest secret, but the Jedi thought the best of their naval gazing.

A snort followed Talohn's remarks about her observation of his quality. "You have potential. Whether you ever truly realize it, however, depends on those you take for a mentor." Even a practitioner of the Dark Side had to do their own work obtaining power. No one -- of any philosophy -- gave power to you. It was born of sweat, tears, and time.

A ripple at the corners of her lips was all that accompanied the man saying she'd understand why they'd be taking the lift shortly.

With her left hand upon her hip, the Lethan's golden eyes swung off to the side as the men began to speak. The guard was free to give her whatever looks he wanted in estimating her trustworthiness. It took effort to remain so impassive waiting as they seemed to talk at length about the why and wherefores of the visit.

Only when the horn sounded did the Twi'lek slowly turned her head forward to regard the Cathar again. She stepped onto the lift without hesitating or doing anything as absurd as checking the ropes. If these people couldn't manage to tend to their little lift the village wouldn't be worth the effort to visit in the first place. So, she fully expected their ascent would pass without issue.

A free hand waved a bit to one side, "You'd think they'd never seen a red woman before." Which they most likely never had. Zlova couldn't say she didn't like the attention though. Whether friend or foe, such a gathering was ripe with possibilities. If only causing trouble wouldn't put the purpose of this little visit at risk. Shame.

"There any other rituals once we get to the top? Convincing an Elder I'm not going to devour the little ones, perhaps?" Zlova smiled over at Talohn. Just because she couldn't stir the communal pot didn't mean she couldn't stir her captive audience.

@Talohn Atar