[Fen] When the Road Disappears

[Fen Vel]

It was dark, the lighting had been bad since Fen arrived but now even the glowtubes and the display screens seemed duller. Freedom had be thrust onto her, a spoiled slave to what, a penniless urchin? It was easy, oh so easy for her to follow orders, to do what she was told and not complain. To have to make her own choices though, that seemed disgustingly cruel. Choices was something all be denied to her, even little ones such as when to eat and what. Now she had to make ones that changed her entire life, whatever she picked and for that she felt so ill-equipped. That was what had left her in the back of a booth, nursing the same vile lemon yellow drink for the last three hours. In her mind the space from her saviors would have helped, it didn't and served only to remind her that she was ill-equipped for the outside world entirely. How life had been simple when she didn't dare consider it.

The cantina she had found was at the bottom of the towerblock, it had a neon sign outside proclaiming itself as such. Along the main road and it did not seem so very busy, nor did it become busy. The bartender had looked at her with curious interest when she offered the last of her money for whatever it would buy her. The floor was sticky, the corners dark and after a while she worked out why. This wasn't a place that people came to have fun, or drink, it was a place for the exchange of secrets. For goings on that people didn't want others to know, that there were other entrances and exits all around the bar. That suited her just fine though, it meant she was left alone to try and work out what she wanted.

There was a dull soft of eletronic music playing at a low level throughout the place, interrupted when one of the adverts on the wall attempted to sell something. A very short woman tended to the bar now, the human having gone it seemed, not that it mattered. Once again she laid out her options, the offer to join the Jedi vs everything else in the universe she didn't know. She'd only be here for the rest of time of course. The Jedi wanted her because of what she could do, just like her previous master. The same would be true of anywhere she went to work though, less she kept it a secret. How many places would hire someone her age with only her limited resume. Would she be able to find somewhere that would want to hire an archivist with no official qualifications, or rather one on this planet? Fen knew she was too weak for physical labour and the thought was somewhat abhorrent to her, machinery and technical matters she only knew in passing. Might there be need of translators, or maybe she should just serve drinks somewhere, the latter seemed pointless. This all seemed so effortless to everyone around her, that the choice was somehow clear.

Trying to clear her mind again she glowered into her drink with her blue-green eyes and gave a resounding sigh. There were bags under those eyes, sleepless nights from strange places and being in space for the first time. Her skin was not pink but a light red, certainly not human but not so terribly different. What stood out most about her was the mass of deep purple hair, braided with beads and pinned at the back. That with the red triangles tattooed onto her face, three under each eye and a bar across the center of her lower lip. The earnings that used to cover most of her ears were gone, leaving tiny pinholes in the flesh. Over her skin she wore a plain black dress, metallic threads weaving a pattern across the shoulders and to a conservative neckline. In her dress, plain as it was she seemed relatively well to do, a pair of borrowed combat boots made her walk seem stiff though. The slippers she normally wore were useless outside of the marble halls of her old home.

 

[Tristar]

It had been too long since his last escapade to the local cantina. The smell of watered down alcohol, the dark atmosphere and broken stereo blasting out the latest songs half-heartedly was one part of the attraction that barely earned the bar points for the most relaxing watering hole. The second part was that no one would offer you a second glance provided you kept to yourself and didn't draw the eye- the latter part was usually the critical piece in a person's camouflage in a dangerous room. Half the people in here had pulled the trigger, and the other half had ordered a trigger to be pulled- everyone had known what violence tasted like first hand, from the obvious choice of the scarred bartender to the purple-haired gi-

She was in the far corner of the cantina which begged the observers to leave her alone, but the choice of color screamed the opposite. She drew the gaze of nearby patrons but nothing more, although he knew that they wouldn't hesitate when the opportunity presented itself. Calico leaned his elbow on the counter, huffing at the presented situation. The last time he had gone out of his way to help a girl who looked as though she needed assistance he got into trouble with the local law enforcement, along with an embarrassing statement. The other time somehow involved a shape shifter whom he tried enlisting the help of, although the plan didn't work out in the end.

The raven haired man rustled up enough interest to gesture at the girl to the bartender and ask her age, which earned him an uninterested shrug. Looking unimpressed at the customer service, Calico ordered a non-alcoholic drink to go just to be on the safe side of things. With a drink in both hands, walking up to her booth took an impressive amount of willpower to keep an impassive look on his face. No words of greeting, no mention of intention, just a simple offer of a cranberry juice for a seat across her.

Calico let her simmer in her curiosity, not intent on breaking the silence just yet. He wore simple garb, a white singlet tucked into military khaki trousers that revealed his tattoos earned over his service in various military factions. From the western spaghetti style bullet tat' on his biceps to the snaking tribal tat' of the feline Kushari warriors and last of all the iconic mythosaur on the back of his palm as he took a swig of the bar's best, Calico's image was that of a delinquent- or a veteran of war. Just another patch of violence that covered up the little girl's innocent-not-so-innocent aura that the nearby patrons shied their eyes away.

"How long have you been here?" he said with an eye closed, eyeing her with his untouched left eye.

 

[Fen Vel]

She had never pulled a trigger, she'd never held a weapon. Her actions though, on behalf of others had lead to tens if not hundreds of deaths, at the time that number didn't seem to matter in the slightest. They were all people that had broken the rules of the world that she had been brought up in and there were only so many punishments. Most of those deaths had not been in front of her however, it didn't quite seem like such a distant, final thing that only happened to other people any more. Not that she really felt that her own life was in any sort of danger right now, no one knew who she was and much less cared. So this man, with his tattoos, body shape and clothing of a soldier did not seem threatening, less so when holding a drink. Then when you spend most days at the whim of a being that is six times your size and could break every bone in your body with one hand, her idea of threatening might be somewhat off.

By reflex at he approached set sat herself neatly and looked through him for a moment before finally meeting his black eyes. His question seemed innocent enough and her answer came at once with a soft voice, "I am afraid I have no idea, there are no chronometers here." In truth she hadn't even looked at the time when she left, even if there was a clock here then she wouldn't be any the wiser. Now sheltered as she was, she understood social interaction. While more comfortable with a business deal she had talked to people socially before, though rarely. Now in places like this, her assumption was that males tended to want one thing. That was not a fault to her as she saw it as just a thing, nor was she blind to such desires herself. However she was very good a suppressing them, she did not think at least right now, he was a threat to her.

Coolly she regarded him for a few seconds more, "You want to join me." It was not a question or an invitation by her tone but merely a statement. Fen made no effort to move herself to make it apparent she was comfortable with the idea instead she kept looking at him somewhat hauntingly, "My name is Fen." Of course in social interactions there were two ways she had experienced before, when talking to someone superior to her, or down to someone else. As of yet she had never had a conversation with anyone she had considered an equal. At this very moment she was trying and most would say failing to construct that level of politeness.

 

[Tristar]

For a girl who didn't look to be out of her twenties, this 'Fen' was being uncharacteristically blunt for a girl with her get-up. With her image, Calico was expecting to beat around the bush, trade a few non-important introductions and then finally hit home run ten to fifteen minutes into the conversation. Sure, he had wanted to sit with her for a little chit chat but there really was no reason for him to talk to her. Perhaps it was what they called the guardian instinct that caused him to move to her- if that was his explanation to his behavior, it would still be a very weak explanation.

Fen didn't look nearly as defenseless or helpless as her little figure seem to indicate but he had been in enough situations to know what her eyes meant. She had a fighter's spirit, or at the very least she wasn't interested in going back to how things were, whatever the situation was. "It depends on what you mean by join, but if by that you mean accompany you with a drink in hand, then yes." To emphasize his words, Calico raised the bottom of his bottle and stayed silent as his apple bobbed up and down.

He gave her a lookover, this time with both his eyes to gauge her character. She offered him her name- dare he return the gesture? He didn't know if he could trust her with something as simple as that, but as far as introductions could go. . .

"They call me Blue." It was a white lie- he heard somewhere that Calico was a shade of blue, so giving her a variant of his name was half a lie. Or was it a white lie? The borders between the meaning of phrases were lost on him, and he pulls of a tired look at her. "What's a person like you doing in the nasty part of town?"

 

[Fen Vel]

Liar. The first part was fine, he was honest there was far as she could tell but when it came to his name, his hesitation, his vibe, he didn't want to say. It didn't matter, so what if a stranger didn't want to give another stranger their name. Maybe it would be smart for her to do the same thing? Well it wasn't like she was really broadcasting it, nor as if she had any evidence of existing in any computer records. A small twitch of dissatisfaction flashed across her face, matter or not she didn't like being lied to.

While he drank she regarded him the same as he had done, though she didn't know enough of the galaxy to take too much useful from him. Beyond being a soldier he has a Mandalorian Tattoo, they like her tended to be prized henchmen, he was also edging towards middle age. That either meant he was a good one, or a very bad one. It did raise questions of if he was a bounty hunter, it was too soon though, to track her down this easily didn't seem right.

In answer to his question she was somewhat more forthcoming, placing her hands around her drink without moving it, "I wanted some space to think, I heard this is the sort of place people go for that." Sometime, somewhere she had heard some men joking about someone going to the same bar every week without the rest of them. Placing her blue-green eyes back on him she seemed to relax ever so slightly, "When you look at me, what type of person do you see?" Thousands of times she had looked in the mirror to check herself and never asked that question. The person that she saw now was a stranger, someone who looked so different than she felt. Enough to make her question, what did other people see when they looked at her?

 

[Tristar]

Tension was thick in the air between the two of odd duo- here was an ageing warrior who had been tossed out from the bridge of a ship, braved the depths of hell for nothing more than a month's worth of pay against a-a. . teenager at best. A very brave teenager. Most teens her age would have shunned him and dashed off to the nearest 'hip' club to play hooky and down a bottle of piss and pretending to be drunk of their arses. Calico huffed at that and went back to murdering his drink in silence.

He didn't like her.

Or rather to phrase it in a pleasant manner, he didn't like to be analyzed so obviously- usually he was in the position to analyze, not the other way around. It was like back being interviewed for a job, a situation where his nervousness showed. Perspiration was forming at the palms of his hands, intermingling with the condensation from the cold beer or being soaked up by his khaki pants. Combat had a different type of stress that Calico savored- face-to-face talks was a different form of monster altogether that Calico often had nightmares about.

He slammed the bottle down to the table and opened an eye at her. "Thinking's something you can do anywhere- some like it without the pressure, and fold easy when an eye is fixated at them. Note the singular term." He suppressed a belch with the back of his hand and pushed the empty bottle away from him. The roughness of his hands were visible from the angle, another visible hint of his character. "Others like to sink into the background and let the events sway their thoughts. If you're one of the latter, then yes this is a place to come and think. Just be careful not to get swept up by the currents."

Calico gave her another thorough look from what was visible of her body. She had a homely face and a nice set of shoulders from a physical summary, although he knew that wasn't the answer to her question. There was still a rigidness to how she showed herself to him, as though she was unused to something. From how she stared at him straight in the eye, it wasn't him or people of his caliber. In fact she seemed to be used to his imposing presence. That meant a few possibilities, so he chose to go with the most obvious of the lot to get it out of the way. "You seem to be used to intimidation and oppression. From your stature and assumed age, either you used to be sexually harassed by someone, possibly a close living relative following criminal trends, or you were a slave." His voice was low, indicating the amount of privacy he was willing to go for her sake. "Something's troubling you, or you'd never have gone to this kind of place to think. You're lonely, or rather you haven't had the chance to bond properly with people your age. Last few years of your life must've been hell for you."

"You're destitute but not desperate, so you still have some sense of self-esteem within yourself. A fighter? Not by any physical standards, but something tells me you have had enough of staring up from the bottom of the very bottom of the totem pole." He tossed a coin at her from the blue, bouncing it off the table and onto the edge of her side. "Your turn."

 

[Fen Vel]

And here she thought she was the only one in the galaxy with her problem, yet he read her like a book with nary a word between them. Was that a skill that many people had? Did they just not show it to her because she was of no consequence? His thoughts on thinking, reminded her of a poem, not in basic and the words were not so clear right now. A lost sailor who had been caught in a storm, blown hither and thither by gods that tried to be helpful. Rather morosely she remembered that the sailor died at the end, his ship still drifting the waves while the gods bickered. That was not very helpful. His warning, Fen took to heart though it seemed far easier to be swept up than fight against it when she had nothing to fight for.

Being on the receiving end of being studied made her uncomfortable, her shoulder shaking a little until she clenched her fist. Pushing the feeling away she did as she was asked, "You are a soldier, or you were. You like that fact and take pride in it, yet you also come to places like this. If it's not to meet someone, then its to be alone, or at least away from those that know you. I think you are a good person, even if I make you nervous and you lie to me, which means you aren't certain I am." Feeling somewhat revealed now she lifted both her hands and pulled them up against her hair, over her ears. Her braids rattled slightly as she did so and a breath, "It was not hell, I was very comfortable. Most slaves suffer I think, I did not, I had a home, a job," She could not say future, because each day depended on herself but it would not have been an unhappy life had she remained there until she was too old to move and quietly die. It would not have been much of a life though. Dropping her hands back to her lap she smiled, "Now I am adrift in an azure sea with monsters all around and winds tearing at my sails with no port to head to."

This was actually fun, talking like this. She liked telling stories, though not as much as reading them. There was an excitement in this type of talking though. Something that felt quite proper about it even though she was brand new at it. So far she had been talked down to, ignored and prodded for her feelings about things. Feelings she really wasn't sure how to put any words to. Was one allowed to miss being a slave? It seemed not, yet she did. It felt far more comforting than the paths before her now.

 

[Tristar]

His hands came together in a slow clap, a slight twitch at the upper corners of his mouth indicated that he was quite impressed with her analytical skills. Or rather, how quick she was willing to deduce the finer points behind his image. It further proved his initial impression of the girl- his initial impressions of characters were rarely off the mark and when it came to the sparks of risks his mettle was well tested- some may say beyond his limit. Calico leaned back into his seat and slid his hand down to his trousers, giving her an amiable look.

Then he whipped out his pistol and spun it by the trigger guard before letting the barrel aim straight at her. He uttered no words of explanation, letting her gaze sweep over the weapon silently. Another spin, another trick and it was the handle of the weapon that was aimed at her, the barrel tapping the surface of the table.

He extended his hand, resting the weapon at her side of the table slowly. "Close. Initially I was a bounty hunter, worked 'round the rough parts of town but was never really successful in my ventures." Calico left the weapon to her and retracted his arm back slowly, palm facing her and fingers splayed wide open in a gesture of good will to her. This was a small test on his part on her character- what she did with the weapon would decide if she passed or failed.

"I found that I had a bigger talent for killing targets rather than capturing them alive, so I became a contract fighter and sold my services here and there for a while. Traveled here and there, never had a place I could call home so in some aspects, you're a lot blessed than I am. It's tiring to wake up to a different sunrise each day." Pulling out a packet of cigarettes from a pocket, he bit a deathstick from the bundle and let it rest on the edge of his mouth. When fumbling around for a lighter he remembered his graces, and shook the cigarettes at her. A small flicker of fire kissed the end of his cigarette and Calico blew a steady stream of smoke away from Fen's face. Nothing much he could do about the smell, but if she wanted a non-smoking area this wasn't the place to be.

"So you're used to some head honcho pulling the shots and now that some. . . Jedi (Hypothetically speaking it's more likely to be the gum-flappers than the saber-swingers.) has gon' an' 'freed' you while offering a carrot, is that it? It's not like you've got no port to head to. From my point of view, you've got plenty, but you're afraid of committing too much of yourself into a half-assed decision- waitress, 'nother bottle! 'Ta, cheers luv.-and you've decided to stay put to mule things over by yourself." Placing a hold on the conversation to take a short swig from his new bottle, Calico used the break to calm himself down. Talks like these had a way of getting a rise out of him.

"And if you've been offered a place with the the hypothetical Jedi of yours, that means you're touched with the Force. Let's say it wasn't a Jedi but a normal bloke or a law-raid. The fact that you're here and not traipsing along with a bunch of mercs mean that you've got some hold over who gets to be with you. That means you've got a very valuable thing hidden away, or a very dangerous thing. It could be money (You'd be a very good actress if it was.), it could political power (Which case the moment I leave this bar I'd be kidnapped for an interrogation session with men in black suits.) or it could be that you're a monster bred for war but clothed for social graces. If that was the case, I'd much rather you use the pistol to give me a quick death if I've offended you in some way."

 

[Fen Vel]

Fen was surprised by the weapon, more so by what he did with it. Skittering over the table top it came to a stop right in front of her, oh. She listened while he talked but her eyes were on the mass of plast-steel in front of her. Not really sure what he meant by it beyond that he might trust her she tentatively picked it up in both hands, she'd never seen one this close let alone held one. Beyond cutlery she'd never held anything that might be considered a weapon. This one was heavy, but not cold as she expected it to me, far too big for her. It rested on her palms as she looked around it, then back up at him as he offered her a packet. That she knew, nothing that you smoked was good for you so with a shake of her head she refused. Other than the weight of a weapon she had learned that he wasn't a soldier with a cause. So he drifted around like she was worried that she would do, honestly it seemed he was as lost as she was. Just that shooting and killing people was much more in demand than her services.

The fact that he was so on the ball with her feelings and thoughts preyed on her mind the more he said though. Either this really war far more common than she thought, he had been through something similar or he was reading her mind. She didn't feel that from him though, not like she did with Jedi all around her. Maybe he was what she had always pretended to be, just that good. Right down to dealing with the mystic warriors, did everyone know about them as well? She really knew nothing about this world, that was clear. He had surmised everything about her so well, she was off balance when he made things clearer for her. He was right, there was an obvious choice however, it was one you made for life. Being a warrior for cause she didn't understand really, though things would be simpler for her there in her mind. The real problem was, what else was there in the universe?

As he finished she looked back to the blaster, dropping the muzzle towards the table she pulled on the setting tab and the cradle, ejecting the power cell, it dropped an inch onto the table and she lay the pistol down. "Or it could be that I have no value at all," Not everyone was so vicious that on finding their prize was useless they would just abandon her rather than kill her or sell her, so she hoped anyway. Looking to the pistol and back to him she seemed somewhat more composed again, "How dangerous is the galaxy, the real galaxy and not just here. What are my other options? If I am what you think I am?" Placing the power cell in the middle of the two of them she picked up the blaster and laid it down next to it. Fen had lived in the best parts of the underworld and she knew it, the every day life of a normal person, she had no idea what that was really like. She assumed it was like she was before, only she was paid for it. The Jedi would certainly be different than that.

 

[Tristar]

She ejected the weapon's ammunition and set it in the middle of the table like an invisible barrier between them. Exactly what it was defining would become the focal point of the trade of words. Pocketing the rejected cigarette pack, he palmed the pistol and the power cell in a fluid move that barely disturbed the air around them. What happened next was the rapid actions of a weapon being reloaded and then dismantled piece by piece without interruption, from the barrel to the minute pieces that allowed the power within the cell to be manifested into a singular bolt of death- all the while Calico kept his eyes on the girl with a calculated look.

"True enough, players tend to overlook people with no value. In which case you'd be listed as the player-with-no-consequence, and in my experience those are the rare kinds of players in this game that we are born into." With the weapon entirely dismantled, he slide the pieces over to her with a raised eyebrow and a silent message: Take your time, but reverse the process.

"From one player-of-no-consequence to another, the world is as dangerous as you think it is. Oh, sure there are people out there who wouldn't bat an eye over killing you for a peanut, but if you close one eye and view those people with your other eye you'll find that there's ways to bypass those kinds of people. I suppose the most unbiased answer to your question is to know how to use a big gun, and keep one nearby." He gave her a cold look before bursting into a chuckle, slamming the table with a bear's paw of a fist. Such was the intensity of his laughter that tears formed on the edge of his eyes- as the outburst simmered down into silent snickering he rubbed away the tears with a finger, holding onto his cigarette.

"Ah f-sh*t, got ash in my eye. Anyhow- your other options that are worth mentioning is to start building something. Anything, so long as it's something that you build with your own sole providence alone. It's a long process and I can't guarantee you'll be satisfied with the results, but it's something to keep you busy in the meantime while you go figure out something to do." Testing his luck, Calico tried to blow smoke rings like in that one tri-vid he had seen in his past time, except that it was a lot more difficult than he had anticipated. Having given up on the futile prospect, he sighed and returned to his lecture.

"Or you could go freelance and wander 'round the place. Travel around the galaxy, discover and explore- shoot a few people for credits if you have to. It's a lonely life, but a quick route to bumping into someone or something that'll be worth your dedication and commitment. And for sure, no strict rules like the gum-flappin' Jedi."

 

[Fen Vel]

He kept doing the unexpected, what was he trying to get from her now? Ejecting the power cell, that was something that was meant to happen. Stripping down the weapon and putting it back together, people had actual training for that. Even though it made no sense to her, she was used to following orders, even unspoken ones. Looking down at the pieces she tried to think what each one did, wishing she had paid more attention to his hands as they moved. Some were obvious, the trigger and grip remained along the main body, the innards however they were much harder, they made only so much sense. She had never studied the science behind weapons, knowing they had a power cell was the limit. Picking up the tiny parts of the mechanism the best she could do was to see what looked like it slotted together. That made it harder to focus on what Blue said as well, was that his plan?

As she worked she did listen though, his words were the closest thing she had to the truth but she even unfocused as she was had observed things, "Then what of all those people I see without weapons on the streets, if it is so dangerous." She slotted what she thought was the correct order of tubes and valves together only not to have it fit into the cradle. Without flinching she started again, this time it fitted, it was nothing more than a puzzle, she was somewhat good at those, if only because she didn't stop attempting. Once it all fitted she was able to put the case together, though it had taken her a while. Little did she know the chamber was backwards, the gas valve was stuck closed and contact wires hadn't been driven home with enough force. It all fitted together though, which she considered enough. After all if you designed your device that it could be put together wrong, then you were bad at designing it, no?

Regarding what he said though, now she had a moment. Going it alone, seemed a terrible idea for her. Maybe someone who had grown up having to look after themselves would cope, it was struggle enough for her to buy a drink at a bar, let alone something more complicated. Fen was fully aware that if she did that, it would be a matter of days before someone was taking advantage of her and they could easy be far worse than anyone she had experienced so far. The idea of building something until she had made up her mind, that would be fine, if she had any money or way of looking after herself, or if she knew the first thing about building anything. That just made all the options other than the Jedi seem too dangerous, too uncertain and she definitely did not like the uncertain. Right now that was how she looked though, at him as if he had done little to dissuade her worries. That gave way to a small smile though, she was somewhat proud she had made any headway with his odd test, for a first try.

 

[Tristar]

The moment she placed the reassembled weapon back down his hands slid back to her side of the table and snagged his pistol back. Giving the equipment a quick look over of with the eye of a professional, he could tell something was wrong with it. As a believer of practical tests to prove one's worth (And part of his daredevil nature,) he quickly showed the err in her ways by slapping the power cell into the receiver and tapped the side of his head with the barrel. With a finger on the trigger, he gave her a little wink with no explanation before pulling it.

If the girl was expecting the weapon to explode into smithereens, she couldn't have been more disappointed. What resulted next was a pitiful whine and the brief glow at the end of the barrel- thin wisps of smoke trailed out from the barrel, masking the cold sweat by Calico's sides. It was a very risky gamble on his part that would've traumatized the poor girl if the odds weren't in his favor.

As he calmed himself down by reasoning to himself that he had a very thick skull, he began to dismantle the weapon once more with cool hands, breathing easily after holding it back momentarily. "Why are you comparing yourself to the people out in the streets? They're there because that's where they belong, so fear isn't an emotion that comes to mind." With the weapon completely broken down again he pushed the pieces back at her, this time with another one of his not-so-subtle winks. Leaning back, he cleared his throat and wet it some more with his drink then dried it with a long drag of his cigarette.

"A weapon isn't used for threats, it's used for making a statement. For instance, if I were to kill someone after they erred me, then the statement is clear: Make sure I don't find out that you erred against me. If you see people walking without weapons that means they're either one of the people of the first kind, or they're people who's statement is tact onto themselves by the way they talk, dress and act. And let me tell you something," A slight pause as he crushed the cigarette onto the table, leaving a small scorch mark. "Statements are a very powerful thing."

Resting his face on his palm, Calico eyed her progress lazily as he pulled out another cigarette and bit it at the edge of his mouth. A quick snap and the tip glowed in its familiar way once more. She had deft and nimble fingers, if a little brittle. With a little work she could be something worth giving a quick glance when passing down the crowded streets. The mere thought issued a quick smile from him at her. "You're still afraid aren't you? Not at me, no but of the future."

 

[Fen Vel]

She was not expecting him to play Shaddar Roulette with himself, even if he knew there was something wrong the the pistol. Yet again he served to startle her, enough to force a recoil until he clicked the trigger. Rapidly she was starting to think on top of everything else he might well be completely crazy, what sane creature puts its life on the line like that? It took longer for the shock to fade from her face this time as he started to take the gun apart again. Laying her back against the booth she took a breath as she watched, hoping for some clues in case, as he did, he expected her to attempt it again. Starting with the base again she answered more casually, "They have a place to belong, which is what I am looking for, aren't you?" Being in a place where fear didn't matter sounded rather fantastic, like a nicer version of her old life, at least in her head. Why would you ever want to avoid something like that if you had the chance. Not having to carry a weapon because you weren't afraid for your life, who wouldn't want that?

Then he went on to threats and statements, now threats and statements she did know about. With the stock back together she took a less afraid, closer look at the parts. This time she found the tiny markings on the casings, the hints she wanted to get it right this time. Seemingly far more focused on the work than talking her mouth seemed to run, "If a man fails to pay you, you use threats. A cowardly man, against him. A brave man, those he loves. A stupid man, a man without imagination or love, pain is the statement." Ramming the barrel home harder, feeling it click and twist as she did so, "Reputation is everything and those that cross you, never cross back." The muzzle clicked too, she was even more confident now than she was when she was wrong before. "If you seem scary, you are scary, if you act wise you are wise and," Inserting the power core she slipped the pistol into both hands, one around the grip and primed it, the weapon letting out an ever so faint hum, "Seeming like you have the answers, makes people think you do." When you spend your entire life either with slaves or criminals, you learn a lot about statements, and that everything was one. From owning beings like herself, to the way one dressed and acted. The words you use and the respect you show, a web of events that lead ever deeper into plots and manipulations. And she knew well, that not seeming to be those things and being them was just as powerful as being them and seeming them.

"I am afraid of the future," The blaster still in hand, "Nothing is going to change that." What she wanted was a path, not a cure to her fear. Feeling that the last part of the lecture was unnecessary she placed the weapon back on the table, along with the coin he had thrown at her earlier. "I asked you before what I seemed to be, not what I was," She wanted to leave it clear she considered herself superior in some aspects of this game. How close attention was he paying this time? "A bet this time then," Tapping the coin with a slender finger. Under the table she held her right hand flat against her leg, pressing something against her thigh gently. Right now she seemed to exude the cool confidence she had shown when he first arrived, eyes firmly on him.

 

[Tristar]

"So you admit that you're afraid, which is good but not news to me or you. But you're still indecisive in some ways and you're trying to clear it up by putting up an act for the sake of the game I'm making you realize you were playing all the while." he replied coolly, taking the pistol back and inspecting it with one eye, keeping the other trained across the table. He had learned a long while back how to keep his eyes wide open for uncomfortable periods of time- it was just the matter of willpower and the strength of his ignorance to pain. By the way she posed herself after returning the weapon and the coin told him more than she expected to tell in the brief moment of exposure.

She was taking the initiative and forcing the question at him, trying to regain lost ground and reasserting her presence. He had backed her into a corner, or at least stumbled her with his gamble- which meant she had yet to experience a lot of the galaxy's horrors. Now that he looked at it from the bird's eye he was having second thoughts about exposing her to the dark and dangerous beast that was the unknown. His T-6 had served him reliably all these years, every moment where panic was almost winning and every second where his instincts screamed to run- he was very much still clueless about his direction in life but at least he had a stable monument that filled in the gap in his heart, a testament to his survivor's will to live even when there wasn't much to live for. There was moments where he looked up and wondered whether it was worth the trouble- she didn't have the luxury, nor did he want her to experience the nagging doubts.

He took the pistol and weighed it, feeling the heavy impact it had on his hand. It was solid, and it was there- important traits for the rock of faith. Calico eyed her again before slowly pulling out a cigarette from his pack. His own cigarette wasn't anywhere near its end. He tossed the thin stick up in the air, letting it fall on its own accord before snatching it and slipping it between her lips quickly. Before she had a chance to protest he quickly leaned over and placed the barrel of his pistol under the cigarette which made for an awkward angle for his wrist.

Then he pulled the trigger.

There was a silence that resonated as every armed patron pulled out their weapons by instinct, eyes swiveling for threats. Calico withdrew from her space and stepped out of their booth for a short period, publicly apologizing for an accidental weapon malfunction. He earned the silent ire of many of the drinkers who grumbled about wanting a stress free environment and endured the chewing from the bartender who angrily insisted for him to foot the repair bills, to which Calico was more than happy to pay for.

As he returned he looked upwards and gave a thin smile at the scorch mark at the ceiling. Looking back down at Fen, he raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her. She wasn't dead or even injured- what was missing was the minute difference in lengths between an untouched cigarette and hers that was glowing intensely. Some of her hair might've been caught by the bolt and dropped, but he wasn't that good of a shot to have missed the collateral by deliberate action. He let the silence pass by and occupied himself by flipping the safety switch on his weapon before holstering it snugly, all the while avoiding her gaze. The silence broke as he returned eye contact with her with an apologetic smile. "Sorry if that scared you, but I know when not to push my luck with the devil. So, what did you think of my answer to your initial question? Did your brush with death tell you more of the mask that you show to people, or do you need me to explain it in simpler terms in a diplomatic fashion?"

 

[Fen Vel]

The moment that he put it on her lip she knew what he was going to try to do, that didn't surprise her too much. That it worked, that stumped her. Her feigned confidence, no real confidence lasted right up to the point she heard the gas move, without thinking and far faster than she had ever done before her head moved back an eight of an inch. The red bolt seared past her lips and struck the wall hard enough to knock a large chuck of it down. Her eyes flared, half blinded as she recoiled as far back into the booth as she could, legs kicking at the air. For a moment she couldn't breath, yet her heart thumped and thumped. Was he going to kill her? Why? When he turned away from her she was finally able to open her mouth. He was crazy, there was no if about it any more. An interesting kind of crazy, but crazy. Taking the burning stub from her lip she placed it on the table with a hand that shook at first, settling when she placed it in the tray. While he was distracted she suddenly found herself glad he had not repeated his earlier gambit, she would have killed him then and she did not want that. It had failed before, she assumed it would fail again. Her confidence had all been part of her show, to dare him into folding rather than testing her. To assert that she was able to play this game, that she was good at it, though clearly her lack of understand when it came to blasters was her downfall.

When he came back she was running her hand through her hair, trying to work out how things had gotten so stupid. Her eyes met his for that moment when he looked at her and then he smiled and spoke, he really didn't see. It was natural, taking her by surprise. How long had it been, when she was still a child. Her insides contracted, her lip trembled and she tittered, she, smiled and then with her arms about her she laughed at him. Losing all composure she just laughed, enough to bring a weak tear to her eye before she could control herself, how freeing that was. Her voice light, even cheerful at the absurdity of it all she tossed two wires onto the table, "I don't believe it." They were the contacts that she assumed moved power though the device, to charge the gas, clearly she was wrong about that. She had wanted to fake him out, then to show off how she had outsmarted him, only she completely failed and he still didn't know. It was so stupid and petty, just to make a point. Did he think that she meant to dare him into killing himself, that, she almost laughed again before realizing how sobering that was. Cooling a little but still smiling with a cheer absent for as long as she could remember, "I didn't mean for it to work, I guess I failed there." Rolling her lower lip into her mouth for a moment she looked up at him.

"When dealing with a stupid man, make sure he isn't crazy," Everything else all these problems that she was having, the future, the Jedi, her past. Right now, in this stupid moment she forgot all about all of them and just found herself having fun. Placing both her hands on the table, "I guess I still won the bet though," Her white teeth flashing in a smile, her mask was her own, he'd just done what no one else had ever tried. He just shot her mask off.

 

[Tristar]

Calico flinched when she laughed- he was half expecting her to break down in the middle, throw a tantrum or run out on him. She was showing her maturity by admitting defeat. It was a satisfactory ending to his test, so in the end there wasn't any reason for him to act grumpy and join in with the laughter. With a coarse chuckle from him they drew the annoyed eyes of their neighbours, prompting him to wave her laughter down to a manageable level. When the situation calmed down he took a deep breath, mixing it with a little more booze on the side.

His heart was beating from the excitement- it was innocent fun, not adrenaline based which he was addicted to. It felt good after a long time of knowing nothing but hardship. He reached out and ruffled her hairs, knowing that it would annoy her at the very least. "Watch at who you're calling stupid, girl. The fact that I manage to pull this off is a testament to my intelligence, I'll have you know." His cheekiness was accompanied with a mischievous grin. As he retracted his hand he palmed the contact wires and fixed his pistol back, muttering to himself about the minute change in weight. When it was finished he pulled out the power cell and set it on the table.

Upon closer inspection the connection port had blackened and there was the smell of melted industrial material. It was no longer usable, that was for sure. A little annoyed, he placed a knifehand on her forehead and tsked at her. "That should teach you not to tamper with the odds of the game." He left the ruined power cell and kept the blaster back in the holster, silently praying that he wouldn't have to pull it back out any time soon. She did have a point though.

"I suppose you did win, which probably means you're looking for a reward of sorts." That was a statement. Picking up the coin that she returned, he dropped it back at her, this time with a slightly serious expression. The coin fell onto its back, the head of a long dead ruler staring back at her grimly. The dates etched on the edges of coin were slightly dirty but still readable. "Sell it to any antique salesman, they should give you a good price with it. Enough for a ticket off planet at least. Where you go is your prerogative, although I will say this- if you're intending on following me I can only go so far as Dantooine before leaving you. Where I go these times tend to have a lot of conflict, no place for a girl like you right now. That said, if you ever need help. . ." He pulled out a marker pen from his seemingly bottomless pockets, pulled the cap off and etched list of numbers on the table's surface. "Memorize it then scrub it off. That's a private channel that I'll only be able to pick up so long as there's no heavy interference between the sender and receiver. I won't guarantee you that help will come crashing through the roof, but it will come in some form or another. I know people, believe it or not."

 

[Fen Vel]

The mood remained one that was playful. Even though he might have a complaint, he was the one that was giving a girl who knew nothing about Blasters the task of putting one back together. Legitimate mistake or not, he was the one that had caused this to happen to himself, not her. Getting physical contact she was unused to he ruffled her air, tapping his little finger against her head as part of a lax punishment. Fen though, she felt pride. She was happy right now, elated and a pick me up was exactly what she needed right now. Feeling warm she was rather surprised what what he told her. She knew nothing of this coin, or what it might mean or be worth. Her Master had focused more on things that were large or impressive, he would only have coins if they were part of some hoard. Toying with it in her fingers she wondered how much this was worth to him, why he had it and if it had any meaning. To carry it on ones person, that implied that it did. That he was so feel with her selling it though, that ran counter. The coin felt warm in her palm now.

As for following him, she didn't think that wise. He certainly appeared to know what he was doing, however he was as lost as she was. The lost leading the lost might be fun, exciting, yet it was also as he said, liable to get her killed. It would also be unlikely to find her the kind of security that she wanted. He had brought out a side of her that she didn't remember she had though, a different person who was not so proper who could smile real smiles and laugh. That meant a great deal to her, clinging to the relationships she could build she didn't want people to leave her. It was childish though, to want that. It did not take her more than a few seconds to memories the number and she looked at him hard, yet still with a smile. He was helping her. There was no reason for him to help her, he seemed to want nothing and nothing is what she had to give. It was nice to be helped though, it was the same thing that those Jedi had tried to do as well. Maybe he was right, she was in a unique position, different from the normal every day people. Cheery but softly, gilded with seriousness, "Thank you, if I can ever help you in return, I will do so," There was no way to contact her, yet she would remember the first person she might call a friend in the galaxy. There was one thing though, "It'd be easier for me if you tell me your real name though, Blue."

Settling back into the booth she pulled her horrible drink closer and looked at the power cell for a moment, she was uncertain if he planned to leave or would stay. He had helped her with the original problem as well. Not giving her an answer, giving her more to think about however, it had made the paths she could take clearer. The fog was lifting just a little and she could make out glimpses of what might be.

 

[Tristar]

Calico nodded subtly as he gathered his items in a better mood. He wasn't the kind to like getting people indebted to him because there was always the risk of him dying before he could pull the favour. People like him- and her- were of no consequence to the galaxy just yet. It wouldn't matter if another contract soldier died on a foreign battlefield and there would be no nuns waiting over his still body. Fen could hardly boast herself and that gave them a certain bond that he couldn't describe with words. He smiled and reached for his last bottle of beer that he had been terrorizing the entire length of the lecture. The condensation was mostly gone but the bottle was still cool to the touch.

That was good. He didn't like his beer warm.

"I'm not sure what you can do for me just yet little girl." he said bluntly, kissing the bottle's neck thirstily. With the bottom raised to the sky he left the bottle empty and slammed it down with a jarring thud and a coarse appreciation of the drink. "But when the time comes, don't forget me or the coin. I wasn't lying when I told you my name was Blue."

With a feet stepping out from the booth, he paused his exit and turned his head to look at her one more time before leaving the bar for another far, far away place to be paid for bloody work. He gave her a mock salute and a smirk, the last gifts to her before opening his mouth. "Calico is just another shade of blue."

(END)