When Nature Calls

[Robert Abbotangelo]

Arkania, heh, and Bob thought the Sith were arrogant. The local yokels were in a word, rude. Some sort of superiority complex or some such, is what the jolly old man had been told. Twas fortunate then that Bob had plenty of experience in dealing with the equally arrogant Sith. There was one good thing about the Arkanians though, they didn't brood nearly as much as the Sith.

Regardless, Bob was here for a reason! Yes, A very important reason so he reckons. Dragon Hunting! Such an exciting prospect, think of all the things he could learn about... things! Though despite how impressive it would be to hunt and successfully kill an Arkanian dragon, Bob had a sneaking suspicion this whole business wouldn't be that easy.

So there he was, standing in one of his newfound favorite local watering holes, all gussied up for a safari in the snow. He swapped stories with the local patrons as he awaited his partner, unwilling to begin the search for Dragon nests without his faithful companion! Yes, this whole business was making him feel young again!

@Darasuum

(OOC) Sorry this took a bit, I'm bad.

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

❅THEME❅​

Bob, The Abbot, an Imperial Overseer, whatever that was, had brought Zan along in search of arkanian dragons. The climate was not so bad. The Deucalian was more inclined towards cooler environments than most. She tended to run hot anyways and with animal pelts and thick traditional cloak of her people it was hardly a bother.

The dark makeup around her different hued irises looked over at Bob expectantly after entering from the cold. Wind whipped past her as Zan stood in the doorway, the handle of her sith sword sticking out from over one shoulder. Stepping in a few moments later the door automatically closed behind her.

Making her way to where Bob had been burning up the ears of the locals Zan motioned to get a pint of whatever local beer they had. This would be no easy task but fighting a magnificent creature of legend would certainly be a tale to tell. It was not long before she recieved her beverage. The Crusader simply nodded and grunted before taking it and downing nearly half of it in one go.

@Shax

 

[Robert Abbotangelo]

"And then he said... BANG! And the whole place went up in flames! Ah those were the days!" Bob said, recounting another embellished tale of his youth while knocking back a pint of swillian ale. The crowd laughed, or at least both the hilariously drunk, and the soon to be hilariously drunk laughed. Bob sometimes wondered how he always ended up retelling past glories, before he remembered he enjoyed spinning such tales. And he must be good at it, people laughed.

Like a Mantis Shrimp, Bob's head snapped to Zan as his old man senses tingled at her arrival. His face, somehow, split into an even broader grin as he heaved his copious blubber out of the strange seat he found himself in and moved the few feet to join the warrior woman. "Zan! Good of you to join me on this fine adventure!"

He plopped himself adjacent to her, and scanned the room of ruffians and reprobates, looking for someone they might ask for information on the fabled Arkanian Dragon. He had already pegged a few beings present as potential sources of information, but for now was more than willing to let Zan take the lead, since she was so kind with being late. "Alright, so who do you think would be kind enough to tell us what we need to know?"

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

An apathetic expression displayed on the woman's face indicating she was tolerating but not going to join in the remembrance of days past. She wouldd remain standing and accept the beverage that came around to her. Raising it to her mouth she could tell it was different and perhaps not all that good for her personal tastes. But it was still beer.

She listened to the question that Robert posed towards her and she simply answered it by looking around the bar. There were a few patrons around. Zan contemplated the possible ways to go about this. "NOTHIN BUT LIES! She looked down into her cup of alcohol and shook her head in false dissapointment.

Taking a few steps forward she looked toward Bob. "You said there'd be dragons. What do I get when I come all this way? Nothing but heresay. I bet these damn things don't even exist. And even if they did I bet there weak and puny. Probably could squash them with my boot" It was all an act to get the locals riled up. Even though they were wary of them it was insulting for their local danger to be made out to be meek. "I bet these people are scare off a bunch of nuna sized reptiles." Tossing back her drink she drained it and slammed it back down on the table.

@Shax

 

[Robert Abbotangelo]

Bob you might say, was mightily shooketh by Zandrali's sudden irate explosion of words. This particular interrogation tactic was largely left unused by the gregarious old man, often he would instead just offer some beer and some bantha jerky and people told him all sorts of stuff! But this was the first time in many years he had been party to the 'anger the locals' tactic. T'was quite the spectacle especially when one didn't expect it.

While Bob might be slower than some on the supposed uptake, he hadn't gotten to his advanced age by being stupid. "I assure you my girl! All the stories tell of these supposed dragons! And I hardly doubt that the fine folks of Arkania would lie about something so supposedly magnificent!" Bob said, his voice that of a man trying to salvage a vacation with his unruly pre-teen daughter.

Thankfully the legendary pride of the local Arkanian's proved to be the Imperial's greatest ally in this specific moment. A particularly pale specimen of his people with an upset hunch to his back swaggered his way to the two loud and mouthy tourists. "Hey! I'll have you know that the dragons are very real! I've seen them in the mountains myself!"

Bob spun back to Zan with an only half faked smug grin, "Well well well! Seems I was telling the truth after all! And since you were so kind to question my infinite wisdom, mayhaps you could ask our new friend about these magnificent beasts?" Bob said, giving Zan a look that said 'I think you should apologize to the nice man!'

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

"First off don't call me girl." She was actually quite serious about that. She did not like being called girl like some child. She was easily in her twenties and had the physique that certainly did not match a kid's. But she continued after that quick warning. "I'm not so sure."

A man rose up to speak and she rolled her eyes in dissbelief. She really hoped he was telling the truth and not making a false boast. Bob followed up made a short mouth mocking face. But she turned back to the man and took a step towards him. "I'll believe it when I see it, guy. Why should I believe you. You're probably just sayin all this to impress us since we're not from around here."

@Shax

 

[Robert Abbotangelo]

Bob gave the 'fearsome sith warrior' the best dejected pout he could when she told him not to call her girl. Not that he particularly cared what she wanted to be called, she could be wanting to be called the high grand poobah of chuncrunkia and he would refer to her as such. But what was he supposed to call her? Should he say 'I assure you my Zan!' or should he use her full name? So many questions were brought up in such a short amount of time.

The local man scoffed haughtily at Zan, flicking his head so his elf like hair flung past his face as a sign of derision. Quite the uncouth fellow this one. "You wouldn't know a dragon if you were looking down its gullet. I'd take you up to see one my self but uh..." He momentarily looked a little frightened. "I've got some uh, errands to run. But you should talk to old 'Mountain Man' Pratt, he'll prove they are real!" The Arkanian said, pointing into the obligatory shadowy corner of the bar where a mysterious man sat there, mysteriously.

Bob just watched with amusement, such subterfuge always made him a little giddy but this was enough to get him ready to produce one of his trademark cackles. It was fun to watch the up tight Arkanian squirm under the Sith's gaze. "Thank you my friend! We'll do that now!" Bob said, gently placing his hand on Zan's shoulder and smiling brightly at the hoighty toighty Arkanian. With that dismissal, Bob attempted to direct his Sith compatriot to the Mysterious man where he started the conversation with a mighty "Hello my new and handsome friend! Seems you are the man to talk to about these dragons we are hearing so much about, eh?" Bob finished with his easy smile.

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

The answers that continued to flow from the local arkanian's mouth were pleasing to Zan. She did not let it show on her face yet so that she could keep up the act. Her expression of disbelief continued and turned to one of reluctant acceptance.

When Bob thanked the man and came up to her she felt his hand on her broad shoulder. The last man that had touched her had ended up with his throat getting bitten out by the Deucalian. In this case she had not warned Bob to not touch her but he should probably know to not touch a woman without asking. He was also a comrade and they were both playing a part, so she would go easy on him. She shook his hand from her body, resisting the urge to break his fingers in front of everyone in the bar. strike two

Bob would start the conversation with the new associate. It seemed the person, mountain man pratt, was the one to talk to about dragons. Whether that was because he actually knew more or just was not a coward like the rest remained to be seen. The Crusader would keep her thoughts to herself for now and let the Imperial Overseer take the lead in this portion of the dealings.

@Shax

 

[Robert Abbotangelo]

Bob waited patiently for the mysterious man to begin his dialogue, chuckling internally when Zan tensed up. He knew he was playing a very dangerous game and should probably stop, but she was a Sith, he couldn't resist pushing her buttons. And besides, he figured if he confronted her about it he could just give her a hopelessly misinformed reasoning as to his actions. Something about 'intentionally making you angry so you are more powerful' or some such bantha poodoo.

"N'yeeuhp." The Mountain Man muttered in some approximation of the word 'yep.' His voice was surprisingly high when taking into account his general gravitas and wording. One would expect him to be deep and gravelly, and yet he sounded like he was part of a children's 'learn your ABC's' Cartoon.

"Splendid!" Bob exclaimed, resisting the urge to shake Zan with excitement. Even he knew that would be too far. "So! What would you say to taking us to find some these magnificent beasts up close? Maybe find a nest so we can see them in their natural habitat?" Bob asked hopefully, if that didn't work he figured Zan could try and do something womanly to get him to cooperate, but who knows.

@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________________

The old mysterious and down trodden local chestnut. That was what Zan saw this man as. He seemed to be the type that held some sort of quest for the adventurer in some cheap fantasy tale. Maybe his daughter or something would get snatched up and the two Imperial individuals would have to rescue her. If the gal was pretty enough then the Deucalian would not object. Then again she was mostly doing this so she could have the majesty of a dragon at her call.

"Let's not waste any time then" Throwing a hand out she indicated the desire to leave the lack luster establishment. The beer here was not very impressive and if she stayed any longer then Zan would end up starting an actual fight and not one she pretended to have.

@Shax

 

[Robert Abbotangelo]

With baited breath Bob awaited the mans words. The mysterious man was acting, mysteriously, and it really made Bob pay attention. What would he possibly say? Maybe he would tell them off, say the dragons were too dangerous. Maybe he would make a grand speech and sway them to the side of animal conservationism.

He did none of those things, much to Bob's dismay. Instead the mysterious man with the curiously high voice looked down at his flagon of local ale, shrugged and then pounded it back. "Weeeell, lyet's git a wiggle on then." Pratt muttered, almost stumbling as he tried to move his way past Bob and Zan, obviously displaying his drunken state.

Bob managed to catch him before he completely collapsed however, laughing heartily as he clapped his arm around the mans shoulders and casting a grin at Zan that told her in no uncertain terms, that this adventure would be nothing if not exciting.

[End]
@Darasuum