A Stop at the Watering Hole

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Juniper Weiss"]​

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• Soceras
  Wild Space

The massive warship that hung above the planet, cast a baleful reminder to the world's inhabitants that their forgotten rock in the middle of nowhere, had attracted the attention of those with power and resources far beyond their own. Gliding lazily across the sky, was the infamous and much feared Invictus, personal flagship of Darth Tacitus, the autocratic ruler of a far-away frozen planet known as Nelvaan, home to a hardened nation of warriors that were known as one of the Confederacy's most brutal hammers.

The immense battlecruiser's presence over the planet, had been the subject of much speculation and gossip and had caused quite the stir and although there hadn't been any signs of overt hostility, tensions had certainly risen, especially with the influx of supposedly off-duty soldiers, some of which marched around in full combat gear and armor in what looked more like military patrols, rather than servicemen enjoying some shore leave. The fact that most of them spoke in a language that, to the inhabitants of this remote planet, was completely foreign and alien, certainly didn't serve to calm down some of the more paranoid conspiracy theorists and rumors of a military occupation periodically spread like wildfire.

The truth, however, was more bland and benign than most people suspected. The leader of these unexpected guests had simply visited the planet to discuss a potential business deal with one of the world's governments, particularly the sale of military equipment, the meeting having, unfortunately, concluded in the failure to reach a satisfactory agreement.

With the ship not scheduled to depart for another twenty-four hours, many of its occupants had been left with nothing to do and so, a brief shore leave was offered and the armed personnel had simply been mobilized for reasons of security, given the status of the visiting officials.

Most of the off-duty personnel did what soldiers always did when on shore leave - headed for the nearest cantina for a drink. One of these establishments, known as the Dive, had found itself suddenly facing an influx of officers and servicemen dressed in black-and-crimson uniforms, sporting armbands with some kind of triskellion emblem. Unusual for soldiers on shore leave, these new customers were remarkably quiet and orderly, keeping to themselves and conversing in hushed tones in a language which probably none of the locals understood, only switching over to Basic when ordering drinks. The dancing girls in their provocative outfits were mostly ignored, except for the occasional disapproving glare which made it clear that whatever nation they hailed from, these soldiers' culture was highly conservative.

The arrival of another man, along with his fully-armed and armored escorts, caused an immediate reaction amongst the visiting soldiers, which suddenly rose and saluted, fists crossed over their hearts. The stranger swept his slitted, feline eyes across the crowd, eyes tinted gold by the Darkside of the Force and returned their salute, saying a couple of words to them in the strange, harsh-sounding language which they all shared and the soldiers resumed their seats. Even amongst these strange visitors, this stranger stood out. Metallic-looking, silver hair flowed down to his shoulders and a jagged scar marred the left side of his face. Unlike the others, his uniform was a pristine white, the trappings of rank, although foreign and unknown to the inhabitants of Socero, clearly identifying him as a high-ranking military official of some kind, perhaps an admiral, or a general. Four lightsabers and a longsword hung from his belt.

His escorts fanning around him, the stranger made his way towards the bar, picking a random seat and setting a hand on the counter, as the other one reached for a credit chip hidden somewhere in a pocket. His fingers ended in sharp black talons that looked as if they could tear someone apart and everything about him projected a dangerous kind of authority and confidence, like a man used to having his every command executed to the letter, who expected complete and immediate obedience from anyone he interacted with.

He spoke in a clear Basic, his voice raspy and hard, like gravel, the tone, like his eyes, holding just the faintest hint which pointed that, beneath the facade, was a tired man who carried an immense burden. "Wine, please. The best one you have. Keep the change," he said, sliding a credit chip across the counter, which held a sum of several thousand credits, the casual manner in which he discarded it suggesting that his wealth was vast, perhaps incomprehensibly so, for many of this planet's inhabitants.

 

[Juniper Weiss]

Location: Soceras, Dal’Bor – The Dive
Attire: [This]

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It was not all uncommon for The Dive to be busy. It was a popular enough location, and the entertainment always seemed to keep bringing patrons back into the establishment. And if it wasn’t the scantily clad dancers mulling about the floor, serving drinks and offering single dances or the opportunity to occupy a private room for show, then it was the sassy little teal haired woman who tended the bar in the establishment. Naturally Juniper was not the only person who manned the bar. It was her and two others, and the three of them worked like a machine. A very efficient machine at that; they didn’t much have a choice if they wanted to succeed and get paid, especially on nights like tonight when the room was so busy everyone – including the dancers who had become more like servers than anything else – had to work together just to keep up.

Though where the dancing girls employed at the Dive relied heavily on their looks and bodies for the money they made, that wasn’t the case for Jun. Sure, the teal haired woman got flirted with plenty, it was her personality and her proficiency that made her bank for her. Tonight was no different, even with the presence of these strange soldiers, regulars had come in to take up residence as well. It kept the three bartenders busy to be certain, and it kept the girls on the floor both busy and frustrated. Which was fine with Jun, because whatever credits they weren’t making meant more for herself and her pair of teammates.

Jun had made her way down the bar, wiping it off between drink orders just to make sure she didn’t get behind and nothing got sloppy. One thing their boss hated was to come in and make a surprise inspection and find anything messy or disorganized. So most of the employees did their best to make sure that wasn’t an issue. Admittedly, the hafling hadn’t been paying much attention to the scene in the club. Yes, she was aware that they were housing military of some sort, but that was about the extent of it. No trouble was being caused, so she was focusing on keeping up with drink orders rather than sticking her nose out on the floor to see just what these strangers were up to. So it wasn’t until she had gotten down the bar to where this person of importance had seated himself that she even realized he was there.

The woman’s brows had lofted, but it wasn’t in a rude sort of fashion. It was the fact that she could tell – just like everyone around them – that this was a man of means and importance just by looking at him. In that particular moment Jun wasn’t quite sure if she should feel intimidated or not, it was sort of a flip flop emotion and it settled quickly enough when he spoke to her. The teal haired woman refocused and her brow pulled down just a little due to the fact that she could hear that edge of tiredness in his tone. Juniper spent a lot of time around people, and a lot of time listening to them talk. She had learned tone of voice quite quickly – and when that didn’t work, she usually had that advantage of reading minds, though that didn’t seem to be the case here.

“You got it,” she nearly hummed out in response to his order, and she turned first to get him a drink. She had an unopened bottle of Polanis Red that had been aging for who knew how long, and she took that time to open it and this man a glass poured. She had clearly been doing this a while, because rather than fill the glass, she had poured a sample of the brew into it and set the glass down on the bar top in front of him while she stood aside, waiting with the bottle in hand. She wasn’t the sort to serve something to someone that they didn’t like, at least not when it came to wines.

However when she had reached for the credit chip so that she could take care of whatever it was he did end up deciding on, Jun’s expression changed all together. For a moment she stared, uncertain if what she was seeing was correct or not, and then her head shook roughly and she instead shift her gaze to this new patron to her bar – yes, she would always consider it her bar even though she didn’t own the place. “I um…” she started, but that hadn’t been at all what she had wanted to say. Words were eluding her in the moment. “This is most definitely way more than just about any bottle of anything you’re going to find in here, sir.” She informed him. She had no idea if this was some sort of test to see if she was paying attention, or if she would take the credits and be silent, or what. She’s had patrons play that crappy game before, after all.

So rather than assume, she merely stood by and waited for some sort of response to this discovery she had just made. All while trying not to get too worked up about it one way or the other.


[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Juniper Weiss"]​

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• Soceras
  Wild Space

The stranger finally raised his eyes to regard the person in front of him and came face to face with a teal-haired young woman who's breathtaking beauty would have left most men at a loss for words. A woman like this, Tacitus knew, most certainly must have received her fair share of unwanted attention from men and probably a few women who lost themselves in the presence of her beauty, however, Tacitus was not just any other man. The Sith Lord had earned himself a reputation for having a degree of self-control and discipline that rivaled with that of even the wisest of Jedi Masters, all driven by a vast, calculating intellect that dismissed what he considered the more base temptation of carnal pleasures, which most people in the galaxy were far more prone towards.

Instead, as his eyes briefly locked onto hers, he regarded her with a weary, lonely sorrow which seemed to suggest he preferred to be left alone with whatever thoughts occupied his mind, even as he dismissed her confusion regarding the sum of credits on the chip, with a simple wave of his hand. "Keep it. A few thousand credits are not going to matter all that much when I balance my checkbook for this month," he said. Instead, he reached for the glass she had set down before him, absentmindedly shaking it a couple of times as his mind seemed to focus on some distant thoughts, before taking a small sip. "I'll take the bottle," the Sith Lord spoke, throwing a quick glance backwards, towards where groups of his soldiers were engrossed within their own quiet conversations. "And a dozen more, for my men back there."

In truth, his tastes in wine would likely be considered crude and unrefined amongst the circles in which he often found himself. Oh, he understood the difference on an academic level, but the reality was that Tacitus rarely drank even a drop of alcohol, preferring to dispense with such frivolities in favor of more productive pursuits. Now, however, after everything he went through in recent months and all the horrors he endured, he found himself overcome by a strong desire to have a drink and catch his breath, even if for just a moment.

Lifting his eyes to meet the woman's once more, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Her reaction to the sum of money was understandable and he would not be surprised if she suddenly suspected him of having nefarious intentions. Afterall, not everyone, especially on a planet such as Socero, had the resources to just throw around thousands of credits without thinking twice about it. Tacitus, however, was not a man who often spent money on personal comfort and enjoyment and so, with the income he had available from both his political station and the military-industrial conglomerate which he ran and his surprisingly sparse expenses, he had amassed considerable wealth over the years. Very few people in the galaxy even suspected the true extent of the resources he truly had at his disposal and the truth was that a few thousand credits were not even a drop in the ocean. The truth was that he let her keep the change simply because he didn't care about it.

It was ironic, he supposed, how other people would sell their children into slavery for even a fraction of what he had, while he desired nothing more than to be able to leave it all behind and retire to a simple life in isolation. But the galaxy was a cold, uncaring place and while people often chased that which they could not have, in truth few were ever lucky to receive what they desired and when they did so, they were often disappointed in the end.

His eyes once again sweeping through the establishment, he found his mind reverting back to the familiar pragmatism and practicality with which he had become so accustomed to, over the years. The planet was isolated and ignored by most of the galaxy. And an establishment such as this, where scores of people came and went regularly, could serve as the perfect meeting spot for agents wishing to lose themselves into the crowd. And seeing as he had made the journey, afterall, so he may as well not leave empty-handed, even if the arms deal didn't go through.

"Actually, there is one more thing you could do for me," the Sith Lord once again spoke to the teal-haired beauty at the bar. "You could go fetch the owner of this establishment and bring him here," he said, pausing for a few moments to consider some thought. "Tell him the Emperor of Nelvaan wishes to exchange words with him."

 

[Juniper Weiss]

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That had very clearly not been the response that Juniper had been expecting to get. Maybe some sort of correction, a compliment to her observation, something of that sort. But to be told again to not only keep the change, but to be told that it was more or less just a drop in the bucket for this man? Jun had to turn her head away, though it was by no means a gesture meant to be rude or disrespectful by any means. After all, her eyes stayed on him, despite the turn of her head, but the reason for her attempt at looking away? The very clear blush that had spread across the bridge of her nose and along the highest portion of her cheek bones.

Normally, it took a hell of a lot more effort to get the teal-haired woman flustered. And typically it involved a lot more physical effort. However in that moment? Clearly such a generous act had done the trick, and Jun couldn't stop the way it had effected her. The flush of her cheeks was accompanied by her least favorite part of her genetic makeup, the pheromones. They weren't particularly strong considering she was only flustered, but it had been reason enough for her to look away and attempt to gain some control over herself.

"I'll make sure the bottles are pulled from the storeroom and taken out to the tables your men are occupying." she assured him, and when one of the two other bartenders came up behind her, there was a gentle hand placed against the small of Jun's back and the other woman leaned in to speak against the teal-haired woman's ear. Juniper was quick to nod to whatever was said to her, and despite the hazed look to the other woman's eyes? She pulled away and disappeared into the back.

"It's being taken care of now." Jun stated, "She's going to find bottles that are close to the same year as the one we had out here." She took the credit chip aside so that she could ring up the purchase, and she even split a bit of it between herself and the other two working the bar. They were all busting their backsides to make sure things ran smoothly tonight, so Juni was not above sharing rewarded spoils.

However, when she was asked to go and get the owner, her brow pulled down and her gaze drifted back to the man seated just off to the side of her. She half turned to look towards an office door off to the side, and then she nodded her head and stepped away so that she too could go into the back. The other bartender had come out before she did, and she signaled to a few of the dancers-turned-servers to come and start taking the bottles to the tables before she herself went back down to her section of the bar. It didn't take long for the wine to start making it's way out, and soon after that Jun reemerged.

"Alright, he said he'll be out here as quick as he can. You'll know him as soon as you see him. Tall guy, humanoid, bald, clean suit." she managed a genuine smile and looked amused. "He's ridiculous, but in the best way possible." Clearly the employees had respect for the man, and some obvious familial type love for him too.


[member="Darth Tacitus"]

 

[Kainan Wolfe]

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Attn: [member="Juniper Weiss"]​

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• Soceras
  Wild Space

The incredulous and shocked look on the woman's face, brought a short, sad bout of laughter from the Emperor. He really had grown unused to the idea of being impressed by what he, by now, considered to be a paltry sum, though there had been a time, many years ago, when the mere thought of possessing such a sum, had been beyond his wildest dreams. Oh, he remembered it well, the poverty, the petty crimes he and the girl he loved had to engage in, simply to survive. He remembered the first time they swiped someone's credit chip and that time when they pulled off their first successful con, he remembered every single time they narrowly escaped the reach of the agents of the law. He also remembered the nights spent huddling under a bridge, clinging together for warmth as they sought to escape the rain and yet, despite it all, those were the happiest years of his life.

Now... everything was different, now. Here he was, the escaped slave now an all-powerful Sith Lord who ruled over an entire planet, with vast wealth at his disposal, armies to do his bidding and the terrible power of the Darkside at his fingertips. And she... Well, she was no longer amongst the living. Even after all these years, he could remember every little thing about her, every little gesture she made without noticing, the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled...

She had always been the one to smile, to hope, who taught him that life was about more than just surviving to fight another day. She was the one who had all the answers to the mysteries of life, who enjoyed every second and every breath to its fullest. And now, she was dead and here he was, when it should have been the other way around. She was the one who deserved to live, yet this cold, uncaring galaxy had snuffed out her life before she could even spread her wings. And here he was, the broken one, the killer and the tyrant, with more blood on his taloned hands, than it would take to fill the oceans of a hundred worlds.

He had grown accustomed to being the immovable pillar, the one who held it all together through the sheer power of his indomitable will. But here and now, he felt more tired than he ever had in his life. All of his duties and responsibilities, all of the horrible actions he had to undertake, every sacrifice, every loss, every bit of hardship he endured, felt like an impossible burden that threatened to crush him under the immensity of its immeasurable weight and every bit of it clearly visible on his features as his mask of calm determination lay forgotten. Sharp talons dug furrows into the bar counter as his hand involuntarily twitched. No matter, he'd buy them a new counter. He'd buy them a hundred, if they wanted to.

And yet, even as exhausted and as broken as he felt, he was still Darth Tacitus, Eternal Emperor of Nelvaan, ruler of millions and leader of armies and fleets. He was still the formidable warrior his hard and unforgiving life had shaped him into. So, when the halfling woman's pheromones finally reached him and inflicted their inevitable chemical reactions in his brain, he immediately snapped out of his reverie. Drawing in a deep breath and exhaling it sharply, he downed the glass of wine in one go and set it on the counter, as empty and devoid of essence as the ragged remnants of his soul.

He knew exactly what these pheromones were, what they did to people and how they made people lose themselves. But he was no ordinary man. He was Darth Tacitus and discipline was something he understood better than any other. So, he did not lose himself, he did not reach out for her, like most would have done, he did not let himself behave like an animal. He had endured torture and loss and despair that would have driven most people irredemably insane. The effect of the pheromones was shackled and crushed and then dismissed in an instant.

But there was one small comfort he would not deny himself, not today. After all the hard work he had done for his people, he had earned himself this much, this small thing. He would allow himself the frivolity of sharing a drink and a few words with pleasant company. With a wave of his taloned hand, he waved the halfling woman over. "Have a seat," he said in a tired, lonely tone, his head nodding towards the bar stool beside him. "Pour me another drink. And pour yourself one, as well," he invited her. Consequences be damned, if her boss made any comments about her not working, he'd pay the man a hundred times the money lost.

"Forgive me, miss. I'm afraid that, lost in my thoughts as I was, I forgot my manners. I'm Kainan... Sadly, I didn't catch your name."

 

[Juniper Weiss]

Being flustered the way she was wasn't just a gateway for the pheromones that were the true bane of Juniper's existence. No, being flustered also made her more aware and sensitive to other things. Like the feelings of those around her, for example. Normally Jun was the one projecting emotions onto others, and usually that was just to keep people happy, complacent, and to make sure they were having a good time. After all, when people were happy, they were generous. However, when the teal haired woman's guard was down like it was now, emotions filtered in towards her as well. And in some cases not just emotions, but thoughts too.

For Jun, hearing thoughts was like seeing pictures in her head. Just flashes of images that she didn't understand when she wasn't actually seeking information from someone's private thoughts. So when this new patron had delved down and started strolling along his own personal hell of a memory lane? Juniper felt a thick lump tighten her throat and there was a sharp prick of moisture in the corner of her eyes. To not only feel such pain and sorrow from someone, but see glimpses of it to? It was like being there, as if she had gone through those things herself as well - though she would never, ever assume to feel or understand the full extent of what someone had gone through. But having what taste of it she got sobered her and her flustered state fairly quickly.

When this man had gouged the bar in front of her, Jun's own hand reached out to place over the top of his without even thinking about it. There could be a very negative reaction to what she had done, but in that moment not only had she not thought of being rejected, but she didn't much care either. There was a deep pain in this man, and exhaustion that threatened to consume her with only a glimpse and taste of it.

So when he had seemed to pull himself from his reverie, Jun withdrew her hand and remained quiet. At least up until he had asked her to come around and sit with him. For a moment she hesitated, and she looked up and down the bar both ways, but finding both other bartenders back in place, Jun's head bobbed and she made her way down and around the bar so that she could seat herself on the empty seat beside him.

Hearing him speak up again made her smile softly, and once again she nodded as she shifted around in her seat just enough to pour him another glass of wine, and gesture to one of the others for a clean glass as well so that she could pour a bit for herself. Only then did Jun shift back to face him, and she offered over his refilled glass as her smile steadily grew. "Well Kainan, you missed my name for one very good reason," she grinned just a little against the rim of her own glass before she took a sip from it's contents. Only once her mouth was clear again and her glass set on the bar top did she continue. "I hadn't given it to you." she teased gently. "I'm Juniper, though call me Jun, please."


[member="Darth Tacitus"]