[Eriadu] And Nowhere, of Comfort Does One Speak...

[Tsara]

ERIADU​

Taris.

Ossus.

Ilum.

Tatooine.

Unfolding her pinkie finger, Tsara looked at five fingers fanned, each representing a planet she'd been too in short of six months. Kuat counted more as station, in spite of it being a world unto its own. So, the pinkie counted for Eriadu, and the club she'd just got done twirling an anchored durasteel pole for.

It was a high ceiling-ed, wide chambered dive.

Pay was good.

What did she care?

As long as the lights were low and the neon bright, Tsara was a goddess to every hot-blooded male from the majority of races that new what a Hyper-Drive was.

In her sparse dancing attire, sitting at a stool up to the bar, Tsara contemplated Atraxis' present pursuits over a tall glass of Fuzzy Tauntaun. In a rare turn, he'd left her off at Eriadu as he 'needed to be in one accord' with himself for his forthcoming adventure, and that he would collect her when he was done.

She didn't ask for details.

They'd agreed back on Ossus, made a pact, to not get in the way of each other's mutual endeavors. Positions of respect and self regard they had faithfully kept. Atraxis didn't fully trust the Empire of Sith that trained him, but placed trust in her almost blindly these days.

Often he instructed her, and in a way, she taught him things in turn, taking him out of his comfort zone of intimidation and aggression. They both sharpened one another, like swords of Mandalorian Iron.

A couple of humorous come-ons, and shameless, fun flirting after her shift of dancing that were mostly innocent, if not flattering, Tsara was left in the peace she presently enjoyed. Just her glass, the bar droid, and her thoughts.

They'd become louder lately...

@Nihilist Horizon

 

[Alesha Solus]

Alesha Solus abruptly awoke in a dim corner of some kind of dive bar. How she’d got here, she didn’t remember; come to think of it, she didn’t remember much nowadays. Ever since Mandalore... no. Alesha had promised herself not to think about that any more. Looking around as her distinct eyes, one violet and the other ice blue, adjusted to the dimly lit bar, the self-exiled Mandalorian realized that she must’ve passed out the night before while drinking.

Whichever planet this was, it was probably the eighth Alesha had visited in the last two weeks, and this particular bar likely the 20th she’d gotten drunk at. As she traveled the Outer Rim without any real purpose, she’d only found reprieve from her nightmares in the drinks she downed every night (and some days, even). Alesha stood, shakily, as she surveyed her surroundings. She wore simple black trousers, combat boots, a form-fitting white shirt, and a worn brown leather jacket. Her unwashed auburn hair fell around her shoulders and just below her upper back, much longer than what she’d allowed herself have it when keeping to strict military standards.

Alesha slowly sauntered over to the open bar, currently only occupied by a lone green Twi’lek. A dancer, she guessed, assuming from the minimal amount of clothing. The Mandalorian took a seat next to the Twi’lek, ordering from the bar droid in front of them.

“Mandalorian whiskey, if you have it. Extra strong, no ice.”

Briefly looking at the other people in the bar, Alesha didn’t spot a single man or woman near as attractive as the girl next to her. Given that she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been with someone, it had likely been more than three nights. She wondered if the Twi’lek would be interested in a “personal dance” later.

“How’d such a pretty girl like you find yourself in a dump like this?” Alesha inquired as the serving droid handed her her drink.

@Tsara Tarr

 

[Tsara]

Not missing a beat, but not looking in the direction of the Mandalorian, Tsara replied while mulling over Ilum, and what'd occurred there. "This place ain't so bad..." she started, taking a sip of her drink, and shutting her eyes, rolling the draw around in her mouth, holding the alcohol as if it were a last breath before shooting it down. She let out a soft, satisfied moan.

"The last place had a ceiling so low, the Ugnaut clientele had to duck to enter, and there I was on stage, trying to make push-ups look provocative." Tsara added before going silent.

Tsara's mind went to Kyi Wavestrider. Another Jedi. Then Zeth. Another Sith. How many pendulum swings was she going to take with the all encompassing WILL of the Galaxy? It was like an everlasting riptide to her. Like there was something The Force was trying to tell her in the all too common occurrence.

Most went their entire lives without ever meeting a Force sensitive individual. A Jedi. A Sith. Her situation couldn't be wholly coincidence. There was something to be had in all of this, and she just hoped it didn't end in similar fashion to how it did with her mother. She'd chased the Force like it was a cute man, and it repaid her infatuation with a Red Lightsaber through the chest. Then there was dad...

Then there was no comfort in her thoughts...

Opening her eyes, Tsara side-glanced over at a woman who, though pretty, looked a hot mess. Not destitute. Not naive. The way she squared her shoulders told Tsara that she had some background in either the military or law enforcement. She also looked strung out...perhaps hung over.

So, Tsara concluded the woman was a soldier.

Soldiers drank to forget, for a spell, what they saw on battlefields. Images of death is what they really brought back from wars. Things that could only be ignored, silenced with a tightly clasped bottle. This woman no different. The Force told her that there was a pain, and guilt that animated the woman in this very moment.

"So, are you going to tell me why you're here, stranger?"

@Nihilist Horizon

 

[Atraxis Aburay]

Atraxis flipped a few switches on the panel of his cockpit, the ship preparing for atmospheric entry as he looked out across the dull blue world of Eriadu. Things had gone, well not horrendously for him on his last excursion and he had gained a bit of insight to the parts of himself that were lacking. It was insightful, and thoroughly enraging, it seems the further he delved into the lighter sides of the force the more it inspired him to blast people off the highest cliff he could find. It was utterly infuriating yet greatly enlightening, it was like a woman that was right about something but put it in such a way to tear you down as far as possible but it still ended up being useful. He couldn't help but sigh, being on this ship alone with nothing but a pilot droid was going to drive him insane at this rate.

Within a few minutes his ship was breaking through the rain clouds hanging over the port where Tsara's signal was coming from, and honestly he needed a break or else he might impale the next annoying person he saw. He forwent his helmet this time, leaving his pale yellow eyes and scarred face on display under his black hood. He looked out, the thunder crashing and causing his ship to vibrate as it flew lightly, the lightning cracking and sending off a few warning through his systems. He immediately dipped the ship lower and out of the storm as he came up on the landing pad, which was just a block away from the Dive Club Tsara was at. His maneuver had him roaring over the city proper before he managed to circle back, his engines shaking the club a bit before he made it back to the pads.

He landed softly without further issue, but as he was walking down the ramp he was approached by a droid complaining about his flying, which he waved away as he tossed some credits at it. He looked over the wing of the ship, a few sensors had been fried by the passing lightning. He slammed his fist against the wall of his ship as the rain continued to pour. He grabbed the droid and dragged it over, "You will get repair droids. They will fix this ship, and they will have it done by tomorrow. You may send the bill to the bar." he said before he began walking away as he approached the club.


Pushing through the door, he brushed past multiple thugs and a variety of unsavory individuals propositioning some of the clubs other workers. He was sort of soaked, yet did not try and disrobe. His black armor dripping water across the floor as cleaning droids simply followed him just cleaning the floor behind him. He looked around, looking for Tsara before deciding to just find a booth. He sat in the back, under a dim red light as he pressed the notification button to allow the bar to know he was there.

@Tsara @Nihilist Horizon ​

 

[Alesha Solus]

Alesha quietly dipped her drink, savoring the burning feeling she got as it went down her throat. What am I doing here? she thought. After years of training, pledging allegiance to the Mand’alor, fighting in the war...

Here she was, alone, drinking herself to death. A pathetic excuse for a Mandalorian warrior, once bound by a strict code of honour, duty, and purpose. Her failure during the Sacking of Mandalore had utterly destroyed her. Alesha stared at the Twi’lek, wondering how to answer her question.

“I can’t talk about that right now. It hurts to much.”

There was a pause as Alesha reconsidered her options. She hadn’t really slept in days, so maybe the nightmares wouldn’t be so bad tonight. She could afford to open up just this once, plus the cute Twi’lek was smokin’ hot. Before she started, the Mandalorian noticed a taller man clad in all black enter the bar, sitting down several feet away but with a clear view of the bar. Taking a sip of her drink and a deep breath, Alesha turned to the Twi’lek.

“It all started on Mandalore. The Sith... to say they defeated us is an understatement. They obliterated us. When the ground assault began, I took my place as a sniper. My mother, father, and my girlfriend had just retreated into a warehouse to regroup with their unit, and I had my crosshairs locked on a bomber pilot as he flew in for a bombing run. But I flinched, and lost track of him in my scope. That same bomber wiped the warehouse my family was in off the map, and I had a chance to stop it. I failed them, our Mand’alor, my training... and I ran. I’ve been running ever since.”

The recitation caused Alesha’s mind to wander back to the case in her ship containing her Beskar’gam and once-precious sniper rifle. She hadn’t brought herself to even touch them since that day; all she wanted was to escape, from herself and her failure.

Tracing a finger along the Twi’lek’s jaw, she asked, “Any chance this pretty face help me forget it all tonight?”

@Tsara Tarr @Red Pyramid

 

[Tsara]

The ghost of a smile formed, but as always, it never matched the ever present sad expression of Tsara's deep blue eyes. The Twi'lek wondered if Alesha's story was an elaborate preamble to the proposition of her body. But...the story had the bite of truth, not a plea for sympathy or pity that usually preceded some clumsy pass. Then there was the overt physical contact. The pain and guilt in the woman Tsara sensed through the Force upon contact. A desperate want was in the woman, not even for the pleasures of the flesh really, but for a moment's comfort. A hope for brief reprieve.

Tsara Tarr had been held in the arms of many men seeking such solace. Escape. And she made them pay considerably for it. But this woman was fragile. Vulnerable. It would be so easy to take advantage and score a pile of credits with empty promises, and stringing her along without ever giving her the desired embrace.

So, Tsara expelled the thought.

She wasn't going to give this woman what she wanted. Tsara was going to try and give her what she needed.

"Pleasure doesn't kill pain, but amplifies it in passing..." and Tsara picked up her drink and took another sip. She detected the familiar presence of Atraxis, but wasn't sure where he skulked in the club...that is, if he was even in the club. Tsara traced a hand along the stroked area of her jawline. "...that touch wasn't meant for me, stranger, but for the lover you've lost."

Taking a longer pull from her glass, Tsara set it down, and threaded fingers on the bar top.

"War is chaos. I lost my parents to it. Alone became reassuring, some days it still is, going from spaceport to spaceport...like I was running from something hot on my heels. But I found some friends..."

She paused, considering her next words carefully.

"...they make it not hurt so bad...they make me not want to be alone, and that the past is something I shouldn't run from."

Picking her glass back up, she turned on the stool towards Alesha, facing her straight on, and angling her head so the scar on her left cheek was visible, the scars on her waist now in full view. Taking a sip, she smiled genuinely.

"Believe me when I say that I have had plenty to run from."

@Red Pyramid @Nihilist Horizon

 

[Atraxis Aburay]

Atraxis sat at the booth, a small droid was attempting to dry him off while others were cleaning up the puddle of water that had run off of him. He had the mood of what would roughly be compared to a soaked cat, but he was attempting to calm himself because you can not blame anyone for the weather. It is an evil bitch all on its own and raging at it would not keep the rain from pelting you when you walked into a typhoon. Rubbing his face, he put his hood down as he ran his hands through his soaked hair. The Short and messy locks letting out a spray of water as other droplets ran down his face, tracing along certain lines in his skin.

He stood up, feeling a bit hungry as he made his way towards the bar where two people seemed to be conversing. He would just sit aside from them, no need to disturb others but as he drew closer one of the faces became familiar. He could feel the melancholy slam into him from the other, man she was like a thermal detonator of emotion right now. That was a box of fun waiting to happy.

He waved silently to Tsara as he drew closer, taking a seat across from her. "Tsara, you could have pick a less...in-climate planet to work at. I swear I could have swam to the bar if it was a little worse." he lightly teased, showing a bit of the attitude she had managed to coax out of him. He looked at the bot and pointed at what he wanted, making sure he understood. A simple small drink, nothing that would impair his mind. He looked over at the woman, she looked Mandalorian but was not decked out in the trademark armor which would inspire him to kill her on sight. So perhaps a civilian.

"It seems I may have interrupted a transaction my dear, still working hard I see little fox." he said as he sipped from his glass, he could feel some sleezy scum approach from behind attempting to sidle up next to them before he turned and stared at them, projecting horrendous fear into them and getting them to walk away to try their game with another woman. The amount of scum in this bar was fantastically astounding, the entire planet's supply must be here trying to get with one of the dancers.

Needless to say, Atraxis was not aware of the very deep and personal nature of the conversation currently at hand and he may have just potentially walked into something.

@Tsara @Nihilist Horizon ​

 

[Alesha Solus]

Alesha nodded slowly as the Twi’lek talked, slightly disappointed that she’d been turned down, but a part of her was also glad to be told what she needed to hear rather than what she wanted. It was plain in the look of her companions’ eyes and the scars on her green-skinned body that’d she’d been through a lot as well; a different kind of tragedy, but tragedy all the same. Finishing her drink, Alesha remembered what Johanna had said to her the first time they’d been together, three years ago on her 20th birthday. We only have one life, why not live it up? Alesha looked up at the Twi’lek next to her, brushing some hair out of her face before addressing her again.

“I’m sorry I came onto you, I’m such a mess right now. Thank you for understanding. I’m Alesha, what’s your name?”

As she said this, the man she’d briefly noticed enter the bar earlier made his way over to them. He looked gruff, but attractive, and seemed to know the dancer Alesha had been conversing with. He sat across from them, making some comment about the shitty weather outside. Her mismatched eyes met his yellow-tinged ones for the better part of a couple seconds, before straying down to his all-black garb. Strange, she thought. Suddenly, the Mandalorian did a double take; he had yellow eyes? The pieces started falling together in her mind, as a flurry of emotions assaulted her at the same time. Alesha began to panic, as rage, guilt, fear, and sadness accompanied her quickly increasing heartbeat and breathing. Her fists clenched tightly as a single word escaped her mouth.

“Sith...”

@Tsara Tarr @Red Pyramid

 

[Tsara]

Atraxis remarking on interrupting a "transaction", and Alesha biting off the word "Sith..." with enough venom to kill a Krayt Dragon created a proverbial crisis of concepts. Words needed to be carefully chosen here. A blatant 'yes' or 'no' to Alesha's accusation would not satisfy. Luckily, Atraxis' words towards her 'transaction' could be an out.

"No, Alesha, my...keeper; Sith deal in death, this man, Atraxis, helps me in my trades...my physical transactions."

Tsara explained slowly, deliberately using the word Atraxis used, with confidence and an easy tone.

"My name is Tsara Tarr, I am a dancer, and several other things..."

The rest was up to Alesha now, and if she had even a sliver of clarity left after the bender she undoubtedly had been on, she wouldn't engage an armored opponent directly while (at least visually seeming) unarmed. She would hopefully take the implications to heart instead. There were many races with yellow eyes, after all, and they were not inherently Sith. But all races traded in skin at some point if given the chance

The air was tense.

All three persons silently anticipating.

@Red Pyramid @Nihilist Horizon

 

[Kyorus Draxx]

It had been a while since Kyorus had unwound. His journeys across the galaxy in search of knowledge and power had somewhat been impeded by his inability to accurately transverse said galaxy without unintentionally involving himself in conflict. To put it simply, he was spent.

"Perhaps a drink would calm the nerves."

Kyorus thought, checking his surroundings in hopes of sanctuary. He audibly sighed a breath of relief when it seemed he may have found the refuge he was so desperately seeking. The rundown bar that lay ahead of him looked like a perfect place to relax and hide out. "Ah finally." He thought. As he walked towards the bar he realised that he wasn't quite sure when he had first landed on Eriadu. However that did not matter, time seemed to be a trivial thing when everyday your life is threatened purely because you exist. All Kyorus knew was that he wanted a nice, stiff drink.

As Kyorus walked through the doors of the bar he realised his mistake. He may have been quite weak compared to his sith bretheren back on Korriban however even the weakest of force users would've almost immediately sensed the tension oozing from the three patrons that sat ahead of him. Kyorus stood motionless. Not sure if he should continue or simply find another dodgy bar. "There must be plenty, right?" He thought.

Instead he steeled his nerves and took a seat within a booth not far from the door, simply watching from afar for now, after all he just wanted a drink... right?

 

[Alesha Solus]

The tension in the air was palpable, even to those not proficient in the space magicks practiced by Jedi or Sith. Tsara’s words made it clear to Alesha that the Twi’lek knew and trusted this man, though why she did the Mandalorian couldn’t figure out. Alesha had fought both Sith and their underlings, even killed one once; and yet, in the end the Dar’Jetii has still burned her world, her family... even if she chose to forgive, she couldn’t ever forget. Despite having only a short conversation so far with Tsara, Alesha felt a better clarity than she had in months. She couldn’t forget the past, and she had to move on. Right now, however, she was both emotionally and physically ill-equipped to fight a Sith, no matter how hard she tried. The memories of her own failure on Mandalore still flashed in her mind, rendering Alesha half-paralyzed in panic.


Additionally, the Mandalorian found herself wondering what had happened since the battle; she was operating on the assumption that the Mandalorians were still scattered, and the Sith still dominant. Being drunk or hungover most of the time had lead her to largely ignore the Holonet news.

Regardless of the subtle warning she picked up in Tsara’s words, Alesha decided, perhaps stupidly, that now wasn’t the time to mince words. She might be an emotional wreck, a shell of the woman and warrior she once was, but she was tired of running.

“Thank you, Tsara. With all due respect, I can tell the difference between a civilian associate and a Dar’Jetii space sorcerer. You don’t want anything to do with this man.”

Turning to directly face the other man, Atraxis, Alesha began to panic again as fear, anger, and guilt washed over her. Looking directly into his irritatingly attractive face, she shakily said,

“Stay away from her. Your kind burned my planet... my family...”

Tears began to well in Alesha’s eyes as she was finally overcome with emotion and a sense of helplessness.

@Red Pyramid @Tsara Tarr

 

[Atraxis Aburay]

Stared at the woman, she looked.....broken, it was almost pitiable. So many things could have happened to him throughout his own life, things that would have broken weaker people. Horrors inflicted on him by those he had since joined, yet he remained strong. Forged into something powerful by the very forces that had once tortured him, and apparently burned her world. He looked at her, scoffing a bit. "Do not be blind you fool. I did not burn your planet, until last month I had never left the planet of my birth and still had the chains wrapped around my neck. You will achieve nothing with your misplaced aggression, the Sith are no longer a treat to you unless you go out of your way to make them one. Continue to speak to me with such disrespect girl however, and I shall reaffirm you of your position in this galaxy." he said finishing off his drink.

He looked at Tsara, laughing a bit at the irony of certain situations. "It is becoming habit for you to attract the attention of damaged individuals. I must say, it must be a power of the force I have yet to comprehend with these star bound interactions. No matter what world it is, you meet the most interesting of people." he said with a laugh. Turning back to face Alesha.

"If it is any comfort to you girl, I am as likely to kill other Sith as you are. I may be Sith, but I choose to follow my own path. The Force has freed me and broken my chains of slavery, you need to find a way to break your own chains. Before they drag you down into depths you can not fathom and you drown in misery and suffering of your own making. Look inward girl, find you demons and cast them out. It would be a shame to see such a woman cowering on herself due to past terrors."

He was cruelly direct, but it was a point that needed to be made. She would get nowhere in life if she allowed just the appearance of a Sith to send her quaking in her boots. Her breaths were shallow, her pulse quickened, the force let him know she was feeling a bevy of dark emotions that clouded her place in the universal force. The threat posed by him to her, at this moment, was nonexistent yet she seemed to be slaying herself on the end of his saber in her mind already. Who knew children grew so large.

@Tsara @Nihilist Horizon @Ripper ​

 

[Tsara]

Rage.

It came from them both. From their pasts that never passed. Suffering and loss their figurative scars, and with those came a weight that was to be carried without question. Tsara wasn't so arrogant to take a high ground with either of them as she carried the same kind of weight too. She had her share of horrors, ones she only vaguely conveyed to Atraxis. But even before meeting Atraxis, and Iden, she learned to bury that pain, to confine it. To bare the weight of the past with a certain silence, and dare she say it? Dignity?

When Tsara was still, her thoughts quieted, and alone, the Force always remained; a reminder of who she was, and what she was from. Kyi Wavestrider (@AfroBandit20), as much as she hated admitting it, had been right; her relationship with the Force was solely her own fault. For three years she'd been fighting it while running from the nightmare that was Odzerah.

She'd grown accustom to resisting, arguing, and wrestling with the Force out of spite.

Out of rage.

"These words from you both are too harsh; the three of us have shared, in essence, identical stories..." Tsara started with a gentle tone that seemed to pierce the trance-beat din of the bar's music. She looked between the Sith and the Mando. Remembering something her father once taught her, Tsara added...

"...it doesn't matter which side of this Galaxy you're on, and who you call master or commander, the massacres, and tragedies abound."

You put the adversarial parties on the same footing by pointing out what they have in common.

Hopefully, it would work...

@Ripper @Nihilist Horizon @Red Pyramid

 

[Kyorus Draxx]

It had been a simple drink he was after but instead Kyorus had stumbled upon something far more interesting. His intrigue in the situation developing in front of him only furthered showed the hypocrisy that lay within him after only moments ago wanting to stay clear of the more indecent individuals that resided within the galaxy, however this did not matter. From what he had seen since he'd first sat down was what seemed to be a clash of beliefs, although a weak one at that.

This perplexed him greatly, Kyorus hated that feeling.

Although at first sight it seemed to be a confrontation of sorts, Kyorus wanted to be sure of the outcome before he involved himself. This is something he can usually predict with ease however he was finding it difficult to deduce their feelings for each other. Perhaps Kyorus subconsciously didn't want to know or perhaps he was naive and overestimated even his own connection with the force, this was something he had recently become acquainted with as it seemed his only companion these days was his own self-doubt.

His self-reflective thoughts were abruptly interrupted however when he noticed the Twi'lek among them. She seemed to be trying to defuse the situation which surprised Kyorus, she was so straight to the point and concise, undoubtedly the complete polar opposite of himself, however this intrigued him.

Minutes had passed and Kyorus still had no drink in hand, this bothered him greatly. It may have bothered him more than it should've as he slammed the table and threw his seat across the bar. This may not have been the most discrete way to reveal himself however he did not care. He didn't care about much these days. "Screw this." He thought, getting up and moving towards the main bar. Kyorus sat down and gestured once again to the bartender, hopefully with a more fruitful result.

He sighed, swiveling his chair around to face the three. "What does it take to get a drink around here right?" Kyorus chuckled.

Perhaps this would be his undoing, however at least he would get that drink...

@Tsara @Nihilist Horizon @Red Pyramid

 

[Tsara]

A flung chair. A loud crash. Droids often followed repair measures when in bars, rather than see to the angry customer(s) that caused the damage. It was the owner's, or bouncers jobs to deal with 'customer service' issues. The droid behind the bar was no different, going right to cleaning as another droid saw to other customers.

They seemed to be actively ignoring the new, dark clad arrival.

Droids, while rather 'sentient' in their programming, lacked some of the finer points of wisdom and fuzzy logic. Tsara had concluded years ago that they perceived time too literally as it ticked, and therefore couldn't understand impatience, and the anger it generated in the person(s) who experienced it.

The man, in jocular tone, remarked about what it took to get a drink right as a Devoronian walked up to Tsara, made eyes at her, blew a kiss, and wordlessly dropped off one of the four bottles of Hapanese pilsner he bought further down the bar. He tapped the tip of her nose before leaving for a table near the stage populated with by rowdy spacers hollering at the Zeltron veil peeler slowly 'revealing' more and more bare purple on stage.

Tsara, thanked the departing admirer, handing the drink he'd bought her to Kyorus once he'd made his table with the others. She winked at Kyorus presently, subtly reaching out with her feelings through the Force, trying to read him. Tsara suspected that this holocron could be judged by its loudly obvious exterior.

"That's how," she almost purred.

@Nihilist Horizon @Red Pyramid @Ripper

 

[Kyorus Draxx]

Kyorus took the drink offered so graciously to the Twi'lek just a moment ago. It was an astonishing event to watch, how she could have such an effect on someone without even a word being exchanged, that was a skill many sith aspired to achieve, however this mysterious figure has made it seem as if it's a trivial endeavour, something it was evident she had practised.

"I appreciate it greatly." Kyorus sighed as he gestured profanities towards the droid at the bar.

"Waiting even another minute for a drink may have lead to a sad series of unfortunate events for that godforsaken droid!" Kyorus exclaimed.

This was no way for someone of his class to act. Kyorus had realized he had come off as brash, something he would rather avoid as a personality trait like that always invited challenge. He calmed down and fixed his robes, swiping off some dust. He now gestured towards the group, Kyorus's hands tended to articulate his emotions more than his words ever could.

"Excuse my manners, I tend to forget them in times of great anguish. What may your names be? After all I want to know whose business I'm sticking my nose into, uninvited of course." He joked. Although he felt this was not the best time to be comedic, Kyorus had a drink in his hand, how could he not be somewhat joyful.

As he awaited their response he took a sip from the drink and looked over the party of three. The Twi'lek seemed to be analysing him, it was almost chilling how she was looking completely through Kyorus. What Kyorus could not anticipate was the other two. He knew that the Twi'lek seemed to be the peacemaker of the clashing foes, however what happened next was a complete dice throw.

It was at this point that Kyorus had deducted that he had no idea why he'd involved himself. It was ironic that for so long all he had desired was solitude and instead here he was, creating a friction unneeded in a galaxy so torn by it.

His moral compass did not seem to affect him much these days, perhaps he was kidding himself believing he could simply not partake in the great adventure he once so desperately sought. However he had realised his lapse in judgement as he threw himself back into reality as he'd somewhat forgotten that his focus needed to be in the here and now.

After all anything could happen, he was in the lion's den now...

@Tsara Tarr @Red Pyramid @Nihilist Horizon

 

[Alesha Solus]

Atraxis’ words were harsh and they stung, but they hit home. After all this time running, Alesha needed someone to be harsh on her like her military trainers were back before she’d dawned Mandalorian beskar. For Alesha, losing her loved ones had been like losing a part of herself, as if her minute mistake had ripped out a piece of her very soul. She’d been utterly broken, and hit rock bottom before today. It was quickly becoming obvious that living in the past was pushing her precariously deeper into a hole she might never escape from. Yet, by some miracle, after all this time of falling into that hole, a pair of hands had reached out to help her up; those hands were Atraxis, despite his apparent non-Dar’Jetii affinities with darker space magicks, and Tsara’s more gentle approach. It seemed almost to ideal to be purely coincidental.

Leaving that intriguing thought, Alesha thought of her family, briefly tearing up but quickly blinking the tears away. They wouldn’t want her to be wasting away on some barren planet in the middle of nowhere. She couldn’t bring back her family or her lover, but she could avenge their memory and bring honour to their name. She couldn’t let them die in vain.

As the serving droid started to refill her glass, the Mandalorian waved it away, demanding water instead. As she did so, another black-dressed man stumbled into the tense but diffusing situation, raging about the years-old droids running the place; Alesha paid him little attention, instead making eye contact with Atraxis. At first the flinched, but then she studied his face. Obviously he had been a slave as Tsara explained, as shown by the scars that no doubt were more numerous beneath his armour, and he had a sense of rugged intelligence about him. Alesha felt almost connected somehow, though what that meant she couldn’t tell. Finally, she said,

“I’ve been running for so long, I nearly lost myself. I find it oddly coincidental that I should meet two people who’ve helped me and could continue to do so, as if some other force brought us all here at the same time. I need to reclaim my heritage, not hide from my mistakes, I realize that now. But I also realize I can’t do this alone... Atraxis, Tsara, could you help me?”

@Red Pyramid @Tsara Tarr @Ripper

 

[Atraxis Aburay]

Atraxis downed his drink in silence, this type of encounter had not been expected, and quite honestly the only woman he really knew was Tsara which had been fine with him. She was his friend, and that was very rare for him and those like him. This Alesha however was an unknown, yet she seemed to be to broken to constitute a threat, despite her origins and her leanings towards his kind. "One moment you wish to try and slaughter me, the next you ask for my help. You are an odd woman. No one can help you reclaim something you have left behind on your own. I will say this however, you let fear dictate your actions and send you running. You must realize your chains are of your own making, you are bound by your own weakness. If you wish to reclaim your life, you must muster up the courage to do so, to reclaim power over your own life that your fear and doubt has wrested from your grip. Right now, you are naught but a slave without the chains to show it. If you wish to suppress yourself this way, you would be better off on those stages there working for credits." he said gesturing to the same woman Tsara had seen, stripping and dancing for the credits the men she entertained showered her with.

"However, if you wish to once more be Mandalorian, then don your armor once more. Crush your insecurity like a warrior, and tell your fear 'No More'. It is as simple as that. The Force has freed me, but I made the choice. What choice will you make? Find it within yourself, and let me know what you decide." he tossed out finally before facing the other sith.

"You need to calm yourself, your outbursts will only draw the wrong attention to us in a time when we can ill afford it. Do something to bring me under threat again, and I shall carve you up and gift wrap the remains for the Mandalorian Hunters to find. If you wish to act out, do so on another planet, I have to much vested 'interest' in things currently on this planet to have you jeopardize it all for a drink." he said, as if he cared only for what the man could endanger. The truth is, he had grown close with Tsara over their time together. With her being a force sensitive, she was in as much danger as they from the Mandos, but lacked the proper completed training with which to defend herself. She was his, he would let nothing endanger what was his. They would die screaming in agony if they tried.

He really was a big softie.

@Tsara Tarr @Nihilist Horizon @Kyorus Draxx ​

 

[Tsara]

She could feel the...affection...from her counterpart in Atraxis through the Force, and allowed a soft, kind smile. They'd been all over the Galaxy in a short period of time, but it seemed like forever. It felt good to not be alone in her various travels. It was reassuring to know that he tended to show up at times when she needed him, like he could hear her even when she didn't speak.

He'd never accept the observation, but he was more a Jedi, than a Sith.

Tsara sensed his aggression often, but it was always directed against foes that threatened them. In many ways, he only went to violence at times when violence was necessary. Defensive violence, and occasionally preemptive violence, but always reasoned, and logical. Never done out of want, or needlessness.

Again, he was one thing in name, but was very much the other in action.

"We may not be able to restore your honor, Alesha, but maybe..." Tsara regarded Alesha closely.

There was a chance at making a difference in her. She needed to be able to prove herself again, find her warrior once more.

"...maybe we can restore some of your self confidence. Get you back on your feet..."

And Tsara looked about cautiously, then beckoned everyone to lean in close as she bent forward.

"...I have coordinates to a largely overlooked, and forgotten planet..."

She paused dramatically.

"...Odzerah V. Atraxis and myself recently acquired an angle on some hot merchandise, but hitting this merchandise would require more hands than our own. Odzerah would make a great place to stash the goods, and hide out on..."

Yet another dramatic pause to build anticipation.

"Before I can continue, I need to know who'd be up for a heist against some individuals no one would feel bad about stealing from..."

@Red Pyramid @Nihilist Horizon @Ripper

 

[Kyorus Draxx]

It seemed Kyorus had stirred the pot more than he'd anticipated by making his presence known to the trio. The Sith among them seemed to become greatly disturbed by his presence almost as if he was looking for a fight. His verbal assault directed towards Kyorus however seemed misplaced, almost as if he was using him as an outlet for his anger. Although Kyorus did not enjoy being treated as if he was a training dummy and even though his first instinct was to retort, Kyorus did not want to escalate issues, after all it was better to rise above petty squabbles than meet them with an unneeded emotional response.

"It seems we both need to control our anger, perhaps focus on the bigger picture? After all, us Sith are a rare sight nowadays. It wouldn't be wise to further diminish our numbers, don't you think, friend?" Kyorus said with a sarcastic undertone.

Although it was the Sith that confronted him, his interest was piqued by the Mandalorian. A Sith he could handle, however it was how she had reacted to his arrival that had gained his interest, seemingly only giving him a glance over, hardly recognising he even existed. Treated as if a piece of dirt on the bottom of her shoe. This bothered him greatly. Kyorus faced confrontation on a daily basis. In fact it was simply apart of his life. Being ignored however was not.

Kyorus let his aggressive thoughts slowly diminish once the Twi'lek once more began to talk. He leaned in to hear what she had to say. From what fragments of the conversation Kyorus heard, it was safe to say he was interested. Since he'd arrived the only one who had met him with kindness was her. If she needed help, he could provide, it was the least he could do.It had been years since someone had treated him as more than a weapon, even if it was just a small gesture it had touched Kyorus, although this was something he would never openly admit.

He leaned in further and whispered to the group.

"I know I give off an aura of incompetence, however if you need another pair of hands and just a dash of wit, I'd be happy to help..."

He paused, scanning the room.

"For a cut of the spoils of course, I'm no charity."

He was aware that they underestimated him greatly. Many had done so before and yet, here he still stood. He hoped they'd take his proposal seriously, it would be a shame to squander what could be a budding friendship due to a bad first impression.

Kyorus raised his glass to the group and smirked.

"So, what do you say?"

@Red Pyramid @Tsara Tarr @Nihilist Horizon