Private A Tale of Two Nomads

[Acier Moonbound]

O R D- M A N T E L L- C I T Y
O R D- M A N T E L L
M I D- R I M​

After months of wandering, chasing fragments of information, half-truths, and the ghost of a name he couldn't place. it was that time again. Time to bunker down. Time to work, scrounge, and build up just enough credits to go looking again.

Following a near miss on Denon (another bounty hunter, another close call), Ace had managed to slip offworld with Rheyla Tann He wasn't proud of it. Not the running, not the hitching, and definitely not the fact that she was the closest thing he had to a friend right now. Though "friend" was a stretch. A galaxy-sized one.

Two weeks on Ord Mantell hadn't changed much, but the quiet helped. Long enough to catch his breath, maybe even get used to the rhythm of one place again. For now, he'd taken up a small gig at a local repair shop. Honest work. The only kind he really knew.

Today, he'd clocked out late. The sky was still painted in afternoon gray, clouds drifting lazily above the edge of the mountain horizon. Unlike Bonadan, or Botajef, or Denon - Ord Mantell City didn't rise in towers. Everything here sat flat, wide, and breathable. The air was real, or at least it felt like it. The city had that worn charm, the kind of place that didn't ask questions. Easy to get lost in.

And that, more than anything, was exactly what Acier needed.

He stood on the edge of the street, hands sunk into his pockets, shoulders just a little less tense. For a moment, he allowed himself to look up, to just be, watching the clouds stretch overhead like they had somewhere better to be.

That moment didn't last. Out of the corner of his eye, something shifted. Not in the Force, but in the rhythm of the street itself. Something he had come to know very well Two men, maybe three, closing in on some guy by the vendor stalls across the avenue. Nothing dramatic. No weapons drawn. Just the kind of hushed aggression you didn't notice unless you knew how to look for it. And that, Acier did.

The guy they were cornering stuck out immediately, wrong robes for a place like this. Clean, too clean. His posture screamed 'no survival instincts' or maybe just someone too kind for this part of town. He wasn't resisting, not really. Just confused. Saying something Ace couldn't quite hear. The lead scammer smiled too wide and held up a datapad, pretending to be helpful. Ace knew the trick. "Free system access" to help you find your docking info," or "Charity signatures" that sign away your credits. Saw it on Bonadan, Denon, everywhere. Always the same.

He exhaled through his nose. Wasn't his problem. Wasn't supposed to be, anyway. Still… the robed guy wasn't backing off. And the other two were starting to flank — one drifting toward his satchel like he already owned it.

Ace clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"Idiot." he muttered, not sure if he meant the stranger, the scammers, or himself.

And with that, he crossed the street.

Thalen Dhorain​

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

Such a strange planet.

That was Thalen's first thought as he took in Ord Mantell. It was quite unlike his home if he was being honest. There were quite a few filthy and scruffy looking folk walking amongst him as he had walked through the streets with his head held high, a quaint smile gracing his face as he looked amongst the people. The air felt...strange. Clean for lack of a better term. Thalen was unsure how air could feel as clean as it did right now.

It was quite late if he was being honest to himself. Perhaps he should have went back to the room he was staying in, but he had to get some kind of souvenir for his travels. And so he made his way towards the street vendors, holding his chin between his index finger and thumb as he took in the various stalls. Most of them were food related, but Thalen wasn't interested. He was very particular with his tastes if he was being honest and he doubted the street vendors would make any food up to his level.

That was when the hair on the back of his neck stood up for a moment. A warning. From the Force. His eyes darted over towards his sides, spotting the men walking over towards him. How peculiar. Was he about to get mugged?...That would make for a delightful little experience! He couldn't wait to tell his family about this. So this was part of the experience of living in the Galaxy as a whole. He turned his attention over towards the men, keeping the polite smile on his face...Though he did appear somewhat disappointed when they took out a Datapad. Oh. It wasn't a mugging. It was a scam. Shame.

Either way, he listened to the scam...Not making an effort to stop the second man from reaching into Thalen's satchel. It wasn't as if he had anything important in there. In fact, if he did reach in, he'd only find a few feathers of a Mantellian flutterplume. They had seemed quite beautiful when Thalen had found them, so he thought of using them to make a gift for his sister at a later date. For now, he turned his focus towards the datapad, pretending to scan over it before he signed it.

Of course, it was using a fake name. They could try and steal his credits, but considering he worked off the family's account, there wouldn't be much in his own personal account. Though he lifted his gaze to look between the pair, narrowing his eyes ever so slightly as his smile faded.

"...You know there are better routes in life than being scammers, yes? I can see the appeal of course. Taking advantage of those you think are your betters. In reality, however you are just spreading the cycle of misfortune."

Thalen sorted his robes out for a moment, getting rid of any dust or dirt that had been building up for a moment. He had been willing to play along with the scam for a short while, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to speak his mind.

"Of course, I know my opinion must mean very little, but I am sure the two...perhaps the three of you are able to achieve far more than being the scum of the Galaxy?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Ace's gaze stayed locked on the unfolding scene as he picked up his pace. Growing up on the streets of Bonadan, this kind of setup was second nature. You didn't need brute strength to survive these kinds of moments: just the right mix of words, timing, and confidence. And if that failed? Well... there was always Plan B. The Force had gotten him out of tighter spots than this.

He closed the distance just as the tail end of the stranger's sentence floated through the air:

"--perhaps the three of you are able to achieve far more than being the scum of the Galaxy?"

Ace cringed. Ugh, why'd he have to go and say that - now this was about to be 5% harder than needed.

"Really?" he muttered aloud, stepping into range with casual authority, his voice flat but clear. He positioned himself just enough to clock all three scammers without looking like he was squaring up.

"Of all the potential marks in this sector, you pick this guy?"

He gestured lazily toward the man with the long black hair and that weirdly serene posture. The crystal eye might've passed for intimidating if the rest of him didn't look like he read poetry during hyperspace turbulence. He was tall, sure, but looked like a stiff breeze might knock him sideways.

"Whole aura screams 'didn't pack a map or a blaster,'" Ace added, arms folded now. "Privileged. Probably just wandered in here thinking the city was charming. Guess that's on-brand."

And yet… there was something in the guy's posture. Not fear. Not cluelessness, either. A kind of quiet patience. Like he'd seen enough of the galaxy to stop reacting to it.

Weird. Guy looked like a walking rookie, but…

"Still," he added, glancing sidelong at the scammers now, "if you were aiming for an easy payday, you miscalculated. I'd cut your losses before this turns into a public performance."

His tone never changed. He didn't have to raise his voice. The weight of his presence, and the small part of his jacket pushed aside to hint at his blaster aid enough. It was a bluff of course, Ace had no intention of getting into a fire fight in the middle of the street. But if these idiots were smart, or at least had a shred of survival instincts - they'd know this wasn't worth it.

This was public, someone was willing to challenge them with heat, there was way more to lose than gain at this point.

Moments that felt like an eternity passed, the three scammers exchanged silent glances with each other before scurrying off. Acier felt himself exhale, not realising he'd been holding his breath. His ears were hot, thumping with blood, as did his heart. He wasn't scared, he'd been in this situation hundreds of times but... the nerves never go away.

Ace then rested his hands in his jacket pockets, meeting the crystal eyed man's gaze with what looked like disproval.

"What was that?" he asked "From what I saw, you knew this was a scam. Why indulge them? Better yet, why antagonise them?"

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

Huh. A Good Samaritan. That wasn't something Thalen had expected. His lips perked up for a moment into a small smile, as he slid his hands into the sleeves of his robes for a moment, keeping his gaze on the Scammers.

"He is right after all. If you were expecting a rewarding payday, you will be sorely mistaken."

He kept his voice steady, calm almost like a gentle river flowing through the air. His tone had neither risen nor fallen as he spoke, keeping the ever so slightly lazy smile on his face. Whilst Ace was attempting to bluff with a blaster, Thalen wasn't bluffing in anyway. If anything, he seemed strangely relaxed. Relaxed enough to unnerve most people, especially considering the tension that was slowly brewing.

Then the scammers finally scurried off like the vermin Thalen perceived them to be. They had made their choice in his eyes. Such a...disappointing choice in his opinion. His smile fading for a moment into an expression of pity as he watched the scammers move away, shaking his head.

"...Such a shame. Sooner or later they'll bite off more than they can chew. I hope they are ready for an alleyway to be their final resting place."

Even now, his voice still didn't falter in tone. A small glint in the crystal of his eye before he turned his gaze over to Acier. Tilting his head to the side as the stranger asked what Thalen's thing was. Why did he indulge the scammers and antagonise them? Well. He supposed it was a valuable question.

"Why not indulge them? Why not antagonise them once they assume they've been given what they want?"

He kept his head tilted towards the side, giving Acier a small puzzled look, as if the answer seemed utterly obvious to everyone else, before Thalen shook his head for a moment.

"People make choices in their every day life. Those choices make them who they are. I gave them a choice. They could have stopped their scams when they thought I was a hapless victim. And they could have apologised when I confronted them over it. They did neither. And so they chose to continue to be vermin. They may have their own reasoning for it, but it does not excuse it. Like I told them. There are better opportunities they could put their minds towards. Unfortunately, they have disappointed me."

A small sigh escaped his lips as he shook his head, turning his attention towards the floor. It was almost as if he was mourning what could have been before he looked back up over towards Acier, breaking out into a thin lipped smile.

"You, however, have not disappointed me. If anything, you are a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to find a Good Samaritan here of all places. Who are you?"

It was a simple question. Though in a way, it could have also be seen as a vitally important one as Thalen's gaze settled on Acier once more. It wasn't a gaze of judgement. No, Thalen judged off actions, not appearances, and going off Acier's actions, Thalen believed the man to be...well, not entirely disappointing like most he met.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Ace blinked. He honestly didn't know what kind of answer he expected. Something a little more straightforward, maybe. A shrug. A "why not?" Or even a smug "because I could."

Instead, what he got was... a speech. Delivered with the kind of calm certainty that made Ace feel like he was the one being tested. Like this wasn't just about street scammers anymore. It was about choices, morality, the nature of vermin, and the apparently grave disappointment of the galaxy's moral decline.

He shifted his weight and stared at the stranger, crystal eye gleaming in the low light, expression unreadable except for the faintest sliver of something that might've been pity. Or judgment. Or both.

Ace blew a sharp breath out through his nose, head tilting slightly.

"…Right," he muttered, after a beat. "That's... a lot to unpack for three morons with a datapad."

His tone wasn't mocking, but it had that familiar dry edge to it. His preferred defense mechanism when someone made him feel unexpectedly seen.

Ace reflected on the statement, brow faintly furrowed. It sounded noble, sure. Like something out of a temple holo, but to him, it reeked of idealism. Easy to say when you'd never been backed into a corner, when you hadn't had to steal to eat or lie just to survive another week. People didn't always get real choices, sometimes all you got was the least awful option. Thalen's words made the world sound clean, like right and wrong came in neat little boxes. But Ace had lived in the grey long enough to know better.

"People make choices, sure. Sometimes those choices look a lot like 'eat or starve.' You ever been in that position? 'Cause trust me, not everyone who lifts a wallet is doing it for the the thrill."

He let that hang for a second before continuing, more neutral now.

"Still. Credit where it's due — you didn't flinch. Even when they reached for your bag." He nodded toward Thalen's robes. "Either you're stupid, fearless, or you've got some kind of secret weapon tucked in there. Not sure which."

Then a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he echoed: Good Samaritan, huh?He clicked his tongue, amused.

"That's a first."

His hands slid back into his jacket pockets.

"You wanna know who I am? Let's start with 'not someone worth saying thank you to.' But if you're buying, I'll give you a name. Nearest cantina's not too far from here."

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

How intriguing. Whether he knew it or not, Acier was proving the lesson Thalen's family had tried to teach him. That choices in the end ultimately didn't matter. That those who made the choices would suffer one way or another. That perhaps choice ultimately didn't matter. Interesting.

"You see three morons with a datapad, I see three individual lives that are unfortunately heading to a dead end."

He was disappointed in the actions of the scammers. It wasn't as if Thalen wanted them to be hurt in the future. But in his opinion, it appeared they were on a projected downward spiral. It was just an utter disappointment for him as he let out a small sigh, keeping his hands concealed within his robes.

"I have not been in the position of choosing whether to eat or starve. No. But I have been in the position of having to choose between joy or sorrow. It is not an easy choice."

At the mentioning of his bag, Thalen slipped one of his hands out of his sleeves and flipped the bag open to just reveal the feathers. A quaint smile once again on Thalen's face as he looked over towards Acier.

"A gift. For my sister. She enjoys wildlife. We don't get much of it on Denon. So...unless those men have an Avian allergy, I don't think this would have done much damage to them."

He slipped the satchel closed at that before sliding his hand back into his sleeves. It was mostly to work on obscuring his movements. It played into helping him to appear as nonchalant. He preferred to keep his movements hidden from those around him. His robes might not protect him from a weapon, but they were his own form of armour as he tilted his head at Acier.

"Everyone in a way is worth being thanked for someone. Even the vermin that scurries away. I suppose I can buy a drink or two for you. I do not partake in it."

Thalen gave a short nod and prepared to follow Acier off to the nearest cantina as he gazed across the streets. He understood that the world could be grey. That everything wasn't black or white. Yet more often than not, that is what it boiled down to in his eyes. Someone may act in a shady way, simply because of someone else's greed. Everyone's choices to him were made because of either someone's kindness or greed. He was eager to see if his opinion would be changed.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Ace's head reeled back slightly. It didn't feel like the guy's perspective came from some lofty sense of superiority. It was more like… compassion. He wanted people to be better, to choose better. It was a nice sentiment. And in a perfect galaxy, maybe that's how things would be. It was classic optimism vs realism. And Ace knew which side usually bled first.

When Thalen mentioned choosing between 'joy or sorrow,' Ace's brow furrowed slightly. It wasn't the answer he'd expected and not one he could completely dismiss either. There was still a trace of that idealism clinging to the edges, but beneath it... honesty. Quiet pain. Maybe Thalen had never gone hungry, never had to fight for a warm floor to sleep on but sorrow could carve you open just the same.

His gaze flicked down as Thalen opened the satchel: feathers. Feathers. Ace nearly snorted. The image of those scammers tearing open the bag only to find a handful of bird fluff was almost hilarious. Then came the mention of Denon, and Ace's expression shifted. His eyes lifted, and a small smile broke through without him meaning to.

"Denon? I just moved from there a few weeks back." Common ground was nice.

After a few more exchanged words, the tall man with the crystal eye agreed to buy him a drink. Said he didn't drink himself. Figures. But neither did Ace. It dulled the senses, and when you lived like he did, sharpness was survival.

With a nod and a jerk of his head, he signaled for Thalen to follow. The cantina wasn't far. As they walked, something continued to tug at him. That presence. Familiar, but not in the usual way. He'd felt it the moment they met — like a flicker just outside his periphery. Thalen was Force-sensitive. No doubt. But unlike the other Jedi Ace had crossed paths with, it wasn't refined. Just like himself.

At first, Ace had mistaken it for calm. That stillness, the unbothered way he moved and spoke, it felt... weightless. Like water undisturbed. But as he focused, he realized it wasn't calm. Not really. It was contained. Held back. The Force clung to him like the ocean held to a tide: vast, patient, but always moving underneath. And untrained as he was, it didn't ripple gently. It swelled. Thalen's presence wasn't a stream, it was a tidal wave waiting to break.

And for the briefest moment, Ace wondered if there was a pattern forming here. A reason behind all these strange encounters. He knew the Force had a will. But what if all this was something else? Some kind of pull. A phenomenon. A... convergence.

Realising he hadn't said anything, Ace filled the silence.

"Name's Acier, by the way. You got one too? Or am I gonna have to call you Stilts?" he said with his usual dry sarcastic tone.

Ace spotted the cantina ahead - The Rusted Mynock. It wasn't his go to, but it was the closest. And hopefully, the most accomodating for tourists like Thalen.

Thalen Dhorain