First Reply a dessert in the desert

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana du Couteau, Jedi Noble
Location: Thyrsus
Objective: Find a Sun Guard Relic

Ariana reached for the ends of her jacket and pulled them together tightly, a gust of wind had a harsh temperament as it blew bitter sand all around. From the harsh sunrays to the unforgiving desert climate, Thyrsus proved every bit inhospitable to those born outside of the planet’s surface. For the young du Couteau’s part, she had braved the trek down to the planet due to a rumor of an ancient relic. Damian, her brother, had warned of the naturally occurring dangers but as well potential hostilities of others seeking the relic of a bygone age.

“Hgmh,” an unsightly sound erupted from her lips, barely managing to find cover inside a large market hall.

The people of Thyrsus had built their civilization to accommodate their planet’s unforgiving nature, building depressed well below the surface-level, underground habitats to thick and strong walls to shield against the harsh sand-storms. Ariana exhaled deeply in a somewhat happy exhaustion, she had survived another day on this accursed planet. The delicate noble Tetan flower had battled many opponents of all variety but fighting against a planet was a rather novel occurrence in her life.

Finding the nearest tavern, Ariana charged ahead to grab the attention of the bartender and demand their coldest refreshment. She lifted up her goggles and lowered her mouthcover, a quick thanks to the bartender and Ariana gulped several gracious amounts of cold water. She forced herself to stop, an attempt to save herself from drowning on dry land.

“Another glass sir and as well as a drink with some energy,” Ariana requested as she slid forward a credit chip.

There was still enough time to explore the next area on her map before the night arrived but she could feel her stamina waning. I need to grab a few stims to keep myself going. She wanted nothing to do with a night-time trek across the Thyrsusian desert. Nothing good ever came out of a night time adventure in her experience.
​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

THYRSUS

Persephone Dashiell, Socialite - Archaeology Scholar - Fashionista
Location : Thyrsus
Objective : Find Relics
Interacting with : Ariana du Couteau

An odd little planet. Desert. However the locals had built a great deal underground, tunnels and homes and market stalls. It truly felt like any other city, just below the initial crust of the planet. Given the merciless sandstorms she had already encountered while on the ground, it was all probably for the best. Persephone couldn't imagine a city coming to a near-stop everyday just because the sand blew.

Tired from a day of traversing through some ruins - carefully charting them, recording symbols, noting any vandalism - Persephone was ready for a break. The only thing of note was a local tavern, which she chose given how busy it was. If it was busy it meant the owner wasn't giving anyone food poisoning. In tow was her pink bodyguard droid, Zee, who was her constant companion. More so than keeping her safe, Zee was also critical in helping to record her findings.

Sliding into a seat at the bar, Persephone noted she was near a young woman who was deathly pale. Albino even. Wrong planet to choose if one burned when moonbeams graced the land, let alone the full sun. Albino Girl immediately gulped down water and asked for more. Didn't take any into the desert with her? Persephone didn't note any type of water bladder in her possession.

"Don't gulp the water. Otherwise you'll end up throwing it up within the next hour."

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana du Couteau, Jedi Noble
Location: Thyrsus
Objective: Find a Sun Guard Relic

“A terrible future, undignified and wasteful.”

Ariana responded, she clasped her face and rubbed it gently before placing her hands back down on the counter. She had only ever thrown up once from over-exhaustion, she had learned her lesson thoroughly. The heat and sun here on this planet was certainly something else entirely, the Force allowed its practitioners to achieve feats of greatness. But even with that in mind Ariana realized how lacking she was that even with her gift of the Force it meant very little.

As the bartender gave her another glass, she passed forward another credit-chip with a nod in thanks. Given the stranger’s words, Ariana wondered if this glass was better served as eye-candy, a reminder for how something as common as cold could be so precious to behold.

“Truth be told, I was hoping for the cold water to rob me of the heat rather than thirst,” Ariana explained, she turned her head and straightened herself to address the considerate woman. She noted how young the woman appeared and drew a curious glance towards the nearby droid.

She doesn’t look native but maybe a merchant?

“My name is Ariana, Ariana du Couteau.” An instant of regret flashed across her eyes and if she was any weaker of mind Ariana might have flinched. The words of her brother echoed in her mind of keeping herself discreet while on her search.

“Care for a drink yourself? On me of course.” Ariana asked, a smile stretched across her lips to hide away her previous error.

She was terrible at reading people with the Force and hadn't the delicate hand for such ability; But years growing up with Nobles Ariana felt comfortable with her ability to discern snakes and prickly weeds in her garden of tranquility. Though a worry arose in her mind if the sands of Thyrsus had worn her senses down to nubs.
​

|| Persephone Dashiell ||​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I'll take a drink but you don't have to pay. I was going to buy one anyway."

Persephone put an order in for a glass of cold water, alcohol would be a waste in such an environment. It would just serve to dehydrate her further. Putting a foot up on the rail running along the bar, she regarded the other woman. Didn't look like she belonged her, especially given how she was gulping down that water.

"Pleasure to meet you Ariana." A small pause. "Persephone Dashiell."

Regarding the other for a long moment, Persephone wondered how to broach her next question. She was never one for shirking just saying things outright but at the same time there had to be a little room for tact. Either way it was going to be a little uncomfortable.

"Why are you so far away from Empress Teta? Hiding from the Empire?"

Persephone was no stranger to the planet. Anyone with one eye and an ability to read would recognize the name from the planet. du Couteau was one of the names found in the upper echelons of society. Even if she hadn't been on Teta several times, her status as a socialite would cement she was at least aware of the surname.

Ariana du Couteau ​

 

[Ariana du Couteau]

Ariana du Couteau, Jedi Noble
Location: Thyrsus
Objective: Find a Sun Guard Relic

Ariana’s smile remained frozen even as she turned to give her drink a ponderous stare. It was an internal flinch which finally pushed her to relax and figure out there wasn’t much use fretting about it now. Something about spilled blue-milk my parents would say I think. She leaned forward on her arms against the bar, with a tired exasperation Ariana nodded to herself.

“Lady Dashiell,” Ariana spoke with a gracious smile formed out of instinct.

“-Eh, my brother would call it an unexpected vacation. . . though not an uncommon occurrence my family enjoyed in the past, I guess we’re fortunate to have the experience.” Ariana explained with a dry wit that would rival that of the Thyrsusian surface.

Oh how much easier it would be to have Damian giving me helpful tips right now. Maybe she could trade her information on a few relics of the Sun Guard for keeping everything trouble free.

“So I’m here making the best of my vacation and exploring the beautiful landscape of Thyrsus. Never know what you’ll find, there is so much history out there.”

Ariana explained and silently hoped she could navigate the conversation to keep herself potentially trouble free for the time being. Unlike her brother, she had spent less on the political and business side of Teta and more on her Jedi training. Though the family name of Dashiell didn’t ring any alarms, her brother had given her an avoidance list of particular people and she would have recalled seeing the name.

“A fellow admirer yourself as well?”
​

|| Persephone Dashiell ||​

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Vacation? Persephone didn't know many who wanted to vacation on such a planet. Seemed a place many avoided unless absolutely necessary. However the landscape could be dynamic. Ariana du Couteau mentioned landscape and history, a clue to the reasons she could be here. Scholarly work. A holographer for a publication. Treasure hunting. Personal interest. Nothing that stood out to Persephone as anything she needed to be cautious about.

As it was, Miss du Couteau had been relatively open considering she had noticed the Tetan family name straight away. Most would not on Thyrsus.

"I would not call the planet beautiful or breathtaking. I'm afraid I'm not much of an admirer of arid landscapes."

Born and raised in city slums, she considered herself more comfortable with the duracrete jungle than anything else. A bit hilarious as her adoptive parents lived on a massive estate with just a little too much nature. A smile touched her features as she remembered the first time seeing and experiencing bees. The horrid creatures were lucky they provided honey.

"Just here for academic reasons. Nothing exciting I'm afraid."