Ask Coruscant In Exchange for A Nice Chat

[Billie Bonheur]

« My apologies Miss Bonheur, but there appears to be a system malfunction. An emergency landing is a necessary course of action. »

The robotic voice of her taxi driver came over the comms and caused the Sephi woman to raise her eyes from her datapad to glance towards the front compartment of the vehicle. She zeroed in on the flashing lights on the console, then watched as the droid turned the vehicle quickly off course and toward the ground below. Her face remained almost perfectly apathetic to the change of plans, though she felt a sigh ready to pass through her lips at the announcement.

"That is alright," she commented in response, though she knew her answer wouldn't change the droid's programmed response to situations like this. Billie shot a quick text to Cara to let her know that she would be late getting back home, then began to situate her items into her purse. While she waited for the taxi to be repaired, or for another to arrive, she would hopefully find her way to a lounge or a nice-looking bar to pass the time.

« Please exit the vehicle. You will be contacted shortly about an alternative vehicle, or when this one is repaired. I am sorry for the inconvenience. »

Billie ducked out of the vehicle, then rose to her full height. A few eyes shot her way, curious about the alabaster, spindly giant of a woman exiting from a smoking private taxi. If this had been the surface, no one would've paid her mind, but it was uncommon to see the wealthy make their appearance even fifty levels below the Galactic City of level 5127. Uncommon, but not unheard of. It wouldn't stop her from being approached though, Billie assumed, and she was correct.

"Is everything doin' alright, ma'am?"

A man approached her, feigning concern on his roughened features. He stood almost a foot shorter than Billie, though the peaks of his montrals rose to her eye level. One of his montrals, to be precise. It appeared that the other had been lost to some accident years ago.

"Why don't 'cha follow me? I know a nice little establishment where you could relax with a few drinks while you wait for your ride to get fixed." He gestured down the street as if he would lead her there. Billie might've raised an eyebrow at him, but instead gave a small shake of her head.

"I don't have any money for you," she stated, her voice calm, hushed, and almost monotonous. She didn't trust him one bit, and wouldn't even if one of his hands was not hidden behind his back. His brows furrowed, but he continued to hold out his hand in gesture and countered with, "That's no issue! I won't mind payin' for ya in exchange for a nice chat."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm quite alri—"

"It's not an offer," the Togruta interjected tersely. His hand tightened around the gun behind his back, and his thumb discreetly flipped the weapon onto its stun mode.

tag: @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

In the streets of Coruscant

Oh, people could be wretched. This he knew well. Krinn was no stranger to criminal activity, and the guilt of his father's loss was a weight that he had never been able to rid himself of. Each night he slept, he dreamed, he thought back on everything he could have done differently. On all the ways he could have saved his parents. They were futile thoughts. The past was long behind him, even if the memories still haunted his twisted mind. But... that was neither here nor there, and the last thing he wanted was to be reminded of the villainy that he knew he was responsible for. Life wasn't fair though, was it?

He had been leaving one the nearby shops, his dark hood draped across shadowed, olive features, shimmering scales that glistened in the reflection of the light that caught upon his painted face. Krinn's intentions had simply been to move on in his search, which had thus far been a futile effort. He hadn't expected to be waylaid by nonsense. Coruscant was a hive, and the deeper one traveled into the nest, the more inhospitable the world could become. He saw that now he looked on upon the scarred togruta, his back turned as he faces down a far taller figure, who's attire alone was enough to display a tantalizing wealth. The blaster tucked between the man's fingers was hidden from the woman's view, but not the nautolan's.

Those maroon eyes narrowed harshly, a glimmer of rage slicing through their fiery depths. He should keep going, because this was none of his business. Krinn himself had been involved in his fair shares of robberies. His boots pressed silently against the flooring of the platform as he prepared to move on, features darkening the moment he turns away. Still, his mind churns with what might happen if he didn't step in. As villainous as his past might be, Krinn did have morals, and the thought of leaving an innocent person behind to be hurt, no matter their allegiance... it seemed to burn at him from the inside. A hateful fire, though it's spite was directed inward.

A sigh blows from the Sith's maw as he peers back at the pair with a stony glare. He could tell himself that there was a purpose to this, that he was not simply being kind. He was a sith, a warrior, not some errand runner. Not a hero. But lies came easily to a cunning mind, even when the person he chose to lie to was himself. That woman was wealthy. Perhaps she had influence, and that could come in handy down the line, if he got into some trouble. There was no guarantee that she'd ever help him if she found out what he was, but this was a manipulation of himself that he could work with. This was how he would avoid any further weight on his already addled mind, without being too concerned about going soft. A compromise with his own spirit, perhaps.

The wiry nautolan can feel his clawed hand slip into his robes, nudging the hilt of his saber that was nestled, hidden there. He's quick to pull away with the realization that it would be unwise to display a sith's weapon in the public of Coruscant, however. Even if his intentions were, debatably, good. The force would be a strong enough ally, even if that was not the champion's strong suit. He finds himself strolling with confidence toward the togruta's back, his footsteps silent, though he hardly intended to hide. There was a scowl forming across his cold features as he finally stopped just short of the potential bandit.

"She's not going with you." Krinn's vocals are softly spoken, but the firmness to them is unmistakable. There's a threat wrapped in venom lurking just beneath the surface of his chilling and uncannily calm statement. "Leave." There is no room for argument as the sith stares down the togruta with a glacial vision. Perhaps it might have felt as if ice crystals were forming within the air around them, but that was merely the biting tension, and the bold determination that glistened within the nautolan's dark eyes.

 

[Billie Bonheur]

Billie spotted the Nautolan long before the roughened Togruta did, and though her expression remained unchanged, she was able to relax a bit. The Nautolan stepped in, calling out in a voice akin to the calm waters under rolling waves. It was controlled and firm, but there was a weight in the air as if his command carried a more dangerous undertone, just like a brewing storm. The Togruta in question froze and was quite obviously caught off guard by the pedestrian that chose to step in from out of nowhere. The Sephi studied him quietly, watching as he debated the situation privately. She was no threat to him, but the Nautolan had weight to his words that seemed to make him doubt whether he wanted to continue forward.

In the end, it seemed the man decided to push his luck. In one smooth motion he spun around, keeping his arm in place as his body turned to face Krinn. His finger squeezed tight on the trigger. Billie took a step back as this happened, surprised by the sudden resort to violence. Luckily for everyone involved but the Togruta, nothing happened. His irate expression was transformed to surprise, then to the universal look of defeat. Almost as quickly as he’d spun around to attack, he bolted for the nearby alley. The Sephi woman would make no attempt to stop him, but her eyes would follow Krinn if he did, and her ears would be alert for the result. If not, they would still find him and study him quietly for a moment.

”Well,” she would begin after a few moments, ”it seems he was ill-equipped and unlucky. Thank you.”

Tag: @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

There is conflict in the air, uncertainty that tastes bitter upon the tongue. Cold eyes are unwavering upon the togruta as he turns, and if there is to be a fight, then so be it. Krinn had been hoping to avoid bloodshed. Violence had a nasty habit of attracting the attention of those that he would rather not have to deal with, especially here, of all places. But... there's a change. The blaster doesn't go off. There is no shot that rings in the artificial light. A sudden shift of emotion a mere moment later, and the togruta flees. Krinn doesn't give chase. Why would he bother? He wasn't the law here in any capacity, and he didn't really care for killing a man as he's running away. Dark eyes turn back to the pale woman as the nautolan peers up at her. She was... very tall.

"You shouldn't be here." Krinn's vocals are soft, but there is certainly a hard sternness to them as he disregards the gratitude. He doesn't really feel the need to elaborate. The togruta had done that through actions alone. "Or perhaps the wealthy of Coruscant routinely wander into the lower levels, and get mugged?" There was genuine curiosity in the statement, not a dry sense of sarcasm. The sith had only ever been to Coruscant once before. He wasn't entirely sure how the people here were, other than... loud. "Your taxi malfunctioned." Another observation, as the nautolan peers at the smoking vehicle behind her. He really shouldn't be lingering. He shouldn't be talking to this woman. But there was no guarantee that the togruta wouldn't return once Krinn left.

"So I will wait with you." He decides, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm Krinn."

@Billie Bonheur @lizziie

 

[Billie Bonheur]

The Togruta made his leave, but the man did not. The tone of his voice was not harsh, but there was an edge to it that almost sounded as if he were reprimanding herself. She found it a bit amusing, but Billie regarded the shorter Nautolan with a passive expression, making it difficult to determine whether she minded his words or decision to wait around. Little about the Sephi woman indicated anything about her emotions, though, at the same time, she did not turn away from him.

"Billie," came her own name, shortly after his own. For a few moments thereafter, Billie's face remained without expression, but eventually, the ghost of a smile graced her lips. "Do you often take it upon yourself to watch over the wealthy of Coruscant, Krinn?"

Billie assumed the man wanted something from her. That's how it typically was with men, or to be fair, just about anyone on the planet. Though she loved its luxuries, she was not fond of much else.

tag: @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

Billie. A name that he would store away for later use, perhaps. But for the moment, Krinn was content to just linger until her new ride appeared to return her to... wherever it was that she was staying. Certainly nowhere on this level. The touch of a small smile swipes across her face, and Krinn doesn't respond with his own, not out of any unfriendliness, but simply because such an expression was rare for him.

"No." The Nautolan responds with a bit of a light shrug. "I'm rarely on Coruscant at all." He admits, and for good reason. Not that she needed to know. "I prefer the waters of my home-world." Krinn adds, perhaps a bit too grumpily, but he really didn't like Coruscant.

@lizziie

 

[Billie Bonheur]

He was not a Coruscanti native, and from his comment on the preference of his watery homeworld, she could only assume he came from Glee Anslem. She'd never been, personally, nor had she ever had the desire to go. The Sephi rarely traveled far from the Core, and the furthest she'd gone had been the Sephi homeworld of Thrusta. Unfortunately, the woman didn't find the xenophobia of her race to be particularly warm, so she hadn't been out in many, many years.

"Mm," was her reply, lacking color in its neutrality. She found the Nautolan curious, but it seemed he was not a big conversationalist. That was fine with her. She generally didn't care either way.

Billie stood in silence with him for a little while until their quiet bubble was broken by a woman who emitted the worst squeal she had ever been forced to bear witness to. Her ears immediately pressed against the side of her head, and she turned her silver eyes to regard a flashy, brightly-dressed woman as she descended upon the two.

"OMG! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but could I get a picture? An autograph? Please, I'm such a fan!"

The Sephi woman's expression changed from completely neutral, to a bit startled, to holding a polite smile all within a few seconds. Each expression was hardly conveyed, but when the human stretched out with her handheld datapad to snap a picture, her smile widened just slightly more. The entire encounter lasted only a few minutes, and as soon as the girl happily trotted away, her face returned back to its resting stoicism.

Her ears, too, relaxed.

tag: @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

Could it be? Someone who finally enjoyed the silence, who didn't make it seem tense, or awkward? No, it was an easy quiet, shared between two people that tolerated one another, even if they were strangers. Krinn is content, relaxing in place as he casts his dark eyes outward, across the platform. Of course, all good things had to come to an end, didn't they? The squeal is enough to make the Nautolan flinch with visible discomfort. He leans away from the photography, entirely uncomfortable by the situation, and when the fan finally leaves, Krinn finds himself peering at Billie with disbelief.

"How do you tolerate that?" He questions, because he thinks that if random people routinely assaulted him with photographs, he'd probably bite them.

@lizziie

 

[Billie Bonheur]

How did she tolerate it? For the most part she was indifferent. She loved what she did, she liked the money and the luxuries, and for the most part the fame. People like the woman walking away from them right now, Billie tolerated them. It was just a fact of life that with fame came the fans.

She would be thankful that her fans were excitable at most. Not every famous figure was blessed with that. Emryc Thorne's dedicated fan base came to mind.

"I love what I do," she finally answered. "It's just a part of being in the public eye."

Would she press a button and make them all disappear if she could? Yes. There would be nothing Billie would love more than being able to disappear off to a secluded planet, spend all day in her studio, and just let her clients come to her. Unfortunately, she wasn't quite there yet.

tag: @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

She loved what she did. And what was that, exactly? Krinn wasn't exactly up to speed on Coruscant celebrities, and the last one he had met had threatened him with a weapon. This place was weird. It's people were weird. Krinn wondered if he looked just as weird to them.

"It sounds annoying." The Nautolan admits. "I prefer privacy." He adds, blinking large eyes as he peers up at the pale woman. "What do you do?" Krinn inquires, because he is curious. What made one so famous on a planet such as this?

@lizziie

 

[Billie Bonheur]

"I design and make custom garments," she answered without hesitation. "I work mostly through commission, and I have dressed politicians like Governor Ordalos (@Altaris), and nobility like Lady Kersin (@Tess) of Dromund Kaas."

Until that very moment, the Sephi woman had been completely stoic and perfectly happy to stand in silence. When asked about her work, however, her glazed-over eyes brightened considerably.

Krinn might also note that Dromund Kaas was a Sith planet, and had been for quite a long time.

A quiet beep sounded from within the Sephi's purse, so she reached into it to pull something out into her gloved hands. The device was small and silver—a stark contrast to the violet, silk gloves that covered the woman's hands. She pressed a button to accept the transmission, and a robotic voice sounded into the air.

« Your vehicle is unable to be repaired in a timely manner. As a result, a replacement vehicle is being sent your way. It is estimated to arrive in about one standard hour. »

If she were to be waiting for close to or potentially more than an hour, Billie had no desire to continue standing around on the side of a grimy street. She turned her head around and let her eyes wander, searching for someplace to sit while she waited. Her silvery gaze finally settled on a nearby building.

"Would you care to join me while I wait, Krinn?" she asked as she gestured to the lounge. If he declined, she would make her way over regardless.

tag: @Nevermourn

 

[Krinn Nelthar]

A designer? Interesting. Probably not something Krinn would ever be interested in, though. He only really wore his robe, tattered, black, and probably stained, though the dark fabric did not betray such a fact. And underneath? Some thin, black jogging pants, and that was quite literally it. The Nautolan wasn't very fond of wearing clothes. He didn't like the sensation of rough, dry fabric against his skin. He much preferred the feeling of water gliding across his body, but, well, they didn't make water clothes, did they?

"Artistic." Krinn comments simply, not entirely sure what else he should say. He couldn't compliment her if he had never really seen her work. And he also didn't share a fascination with it. His eyes snap toward the beeping noise, and he follows her hand curiously as it draws a silvery device from her purse. The vocals that drip into the warm air are far from pleasant, though. Another hour? Oh, he had not been intending to stand here that long. His vision flickers toward the lounge that Billie points out, offering her invitation for him to join her. Would she not be safe in a crowded lounge without some antisocial nautolan hanging over her shoulder? He didn't like people very much, and he wasn't so sure about entering a building full of loud, potentially annoying strangers.

"I think I will pass on that." Krinn responds politely, turning his head to peer up at her once more. "But it was good to meet you." He supposed aloud. It wasn't every day that he met someone that didn't try to talk his head off.

@lizziie

 

[Billie Bonheur]

"Take care, Krinn," would be the reply the Nautolan would get out of her. If he did not wish to join her, she would, of course, not bother to pressure him. She didn't mind one way or another.

Thus, Billie made her way over and into the lounge. She would remain there until she got the message from the replacement vehicle, and then depart. The Sephi quickly found herself a private booth in the back where she would be away from prying eyes and curious faces.

tag: @Nevermourn