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

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

A Smile. Also intriguing. It was interesting to Thalen to see how subtle emotions could come out without the wielder of said emotions intending. It made him wonder if he had been the same once upon a time. He felt as if he was in control of his own emotions now, after the lessons he had received from his family. It was better not to feel and observe, than it was to feel too much and be oblivious as to what was going on. Of course, emotions had their own uses more often than not.

"Yes. Denon was where I was raised. I...haven't had much interaction with those outside of my family there however."

He had in the past. Thalen had used to have his own little group of childhood friends that he'd mess around with. That all changed after he lost his eye and was practically put under house arrest. Thalen wasn't arrogant enough to believe he was in touch with the average person. He knew he was somewhat privileged compared to the average person. Yet a part of him did not care about that obvious fact. It was the Will of the Force that he was in the situation that he was. It had brought him to encounter those scammers, and now it brought him to this little walk with Acier.

"Thalen. Though if you were to check my signature back there, it would say I'm Deacon Vryze."

There were dozens of fake names that Thalen had already used in his travels. When it came to people he thought were respectable, such as Acier, he had no concerns with using his actual name. Yet with Vermin such as the scammers or for those he thought were quite morally compromised, he'd use some form of alias. None of them were important enough for him to remember however. He doubted that he'd come across any of them again.

For a moment, he turned his attention over towards Acier, scrunching his brows for a moment as the artificial lights seemed to glint across his eye for a moment. It was seemingly more and more like this had been the Will of the Force, especially considering that Thalen could sense the presence of the Force coming off his new associate. Yet it wasn't as refined as some of the tutors Thalen had. How intriguing.

"...It appears the Force works in strange ways. It is not often I come across others who are attuned to it."

It was a small comment. He didn't elaborate much on it as he made his way towards the cantina, raising an eyebrow at it, as a small sly smirk graced his face.

"...Even stranger. That the Cantina shares its name with a form of Lightsaber style."

Thalen didn't know much of fighting with a Lightsaber. It hadn't been a weapon he had wanted for himself. He was neither a Jedi nor a Sith, and he felt like a Lightsaber gave off the wrong reputation. He liked the reputation that his current apparel gave him either way. Either way, it was going to be time to get at least get a drink or two.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Ace gave a low chuckle at the mention of Deacon Vryze. "Figures." he said, shaking his head slightly as they walked. "Gotta admit, it fits you. Sounds like someone who'd sell you sermons one day, and sabacc chips on the other."

There was something oddly refreshing about this guy. Thalen didn't carry himself like someone playing the role of a mystic or martyr, yet every now and then, he dropped a sentence that felt like it'd been steeped in a hundred years of reflection. And even now, Ace couldn't quite tell if that made him interesting… or dangerous.

He glanced up at the sign of The Rusted Mynock as it flickered weakly in the dusk light. The cantina was squat, slouched between taller buildings like it knew better than to draw attention. Ace liked it for that exact reason. Thalen made an offhand remark about the cantina sharing its name with a lightsaber form. Ace didn't reply. Instead, almost without thinking, his hand shifted to the outside of his teal jacket, resting lightly over the spot where his lightsaber was concealed beneath the fabric

"Welcome to the galaxy's best five-credit disappointment." he muttered with a smirk, the entrance sliding open beside him. The interior was dim but cozy, soaked in the low hum of music and quiet chatter. Locals, mostly. A few wandering offworlders nursing drinks that cost more than their ships.

He led them to a booth tucked into a shadowed corner, sliding into his seat with the practiced ease of someone who always kept a view of the exits. Once Thalen was seated, Ace leaned forward, elbows on the table, expression turning just a little more focused.

"Okay, Thalen... Deacon... whatever you go by." he said, tone less playful now, "I wanna ask you something. Earlier, you said he Force works in strange ways. You know I have it too. You talk like you're trained, like you know what you're doing. But what I see-- what I feel, how the Force flows around you. It's telling me something else."

He let it sit for a moment. Ace averted his gaze, not from shyness, but in deep contemplative thought. Finally, as if he'd settled on his thoughts, he met Thalen's crystal-eyed gaze.

"I keep meeting people like you. Us. People who the Force 'deems worthy'." he said that last part mockingly "And the weird part? I keep finding more of us. Jedi. Orphans. Wanderers. Like it's all choreographed." he shrugged. "You ever feel like the Force is less of a guide… and more of a... I don't know... some sort of metling pot?"

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

"Ah. No. I'd happily give a sermon free of charge. Sabacc chips on the other hand? They'd cost an arm and a leg."

A small attempt at humour. A smirk still evident on his face as he noted Acier's hand shifting places. He didn't question it or bring any attention. He had noted it in his head and that was all. Whilst he was ever so curious about things in the Galaxy, Thalen was not one for invading one's privacy. Everyone was entitled to that, even if his family hadn't given him the same entitlements.

They made their way closer towards the cantina, as Thalen let his mind drift on the breeze for a moment, his eyes constantly wandering, never staying on sight for too long. As they made their way in, Thalen took in the sights for a moment, looking at those spending their free time in the establishment. Part of his journey was to see more of the world after all, and even the dingiest cantina could make for new experiences.

As they sat down, it appeared as if the conversation was about to turn somewhat towards an interrogation. No. That was the wrong word to use. Acier wanted to learn more about the Force, or at least how it would work. Finally, Thalen took his hands out from his sleeves, linking them together through interlocking his fingers and let his gaze fall upon Acier, the smirk slowly fading from his face as he took a moment to answer.

"I am somewhat trained. Yes. I am by no means an expert. There are some things that come to naturally. Whilst other things I struggle with. I have not chosen what I excel at. I am no Jedi consular, nor Sith sorcerer...I am..."

A frown crossed his brows for a moment as Thalen tried to figure out what word to use...And upon realising that he didn't know what word to use, he just...left it there. In the grand scheme of things, Thalen was nothing. Just silence in a way. Instead the man moved onto the next topic.

"I can not speak for the Will of the Force. In the same way I can not speak for my family. All I can...say is that I believe things happen for a reason. All of our choices shall leave us in the same direction. Say for example, if I had chosen to be aggressive in response to the scamming earlier, instead of you coming to my aid. It's entirely possible, we'd still have met each other, through me arriving here as it is one of the nearest cantinas."

Another example of Thalen's own personal belief that his choices were meaningless. That it was far better for him to go with the flow because it was the path of least resistance.

"Even with a melting pot, all of the ingredients inside said pot are at the whims of the container. The beef can not escape from its fate. The stock can't flow in the opposite direction of it being stirred. I believe the Force brings people together for its own wishes. What those wishes are? I can not predict."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

For a moment, he just stared. All of our choices shall leave us in the same direction. The words hit him like a slap, quiet but jarring. He'd always believed survival meant choices - split-second calls, gut instincts, calculated risks. If the Force had a "will" that overruled all of that… then what? His parents abandoned him because it was meant to be? He was raised in poverty because of destiny? All the hardship he faced was pre-determined? His jaw tightened, and his fingers curled reflexively on the table.

"That's... not how it works." he muttered, not even sure if he was arguing with Thalen or himself. "We make our own way. We have to. Otherwise, what's the point?"

Ace shook his head. No. Thalen had that look - calm, collected, untouched by scarcity. Ace could tell. Privilege didn't need to announce itself; it was in the posture, the stillness, the certainty. Of course he'd believe in fate. It was easier to put your trust in the stars when you weren't clawing your way up from the dirt. Ace told himself that. He needed to tell himself that.

He exhaled, long and steady. Shoulders rising, then dropping. Slowly, the tension drained. He leaned back in his seat, one hand relaxing on the table. The guard came up again - smooth, practiced. That neutral face he wore when things got too close.

"It's kind of nihilistic, yeah?" he said, brushing a hand through his white locs. "I mean… I don't doubt the Force. I know it has a will. But the idea that it's all been planned out?" His brow knit. "I can't accept that."

He paused, eyes narrowing as he tried to piece his thoughts together.

"We make our own choices. But maybe… Maybe the Force nudges. Gives us… moments. Chances. But where we go, what we do... that's still up to us."

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

"Exactly. What is the point? What is the point of life, if we can't change it? If everything has been decided for us? Do we take enjoyment out of the small pleasures of life and focus on our own Happiness? Do we fall into a pit of our own despair and Sorrow? Do we rage against our fate, filled with Wrath and fury? Do we accept our fate and focus on the small sensations of Joy?"

The smirk was gone from Thalen's voice. If anything, it was as if he was asking Acier for an answer. For a question that he had been searching for. Because Thalen had been searching for the answer. What should he do with this? It wasn't as if he was going to force his own beliefs on Acier. If the man believed his choices were important, then Thalen would let him believe so. In a way, it was a privilege in Thalen's eyes to believe your choices could matter, in the same way Acier believed Thalen was privileged. Acier was able to believe that his suffering mattered. That what he went through would inspire his choices. But for Thalen?

Nothing he did mattered. The pain of losing his eye. The loneliness from being isolated from his siblings. His own suffering. None of it mattered in the grand scheme of things. It was all meant to happen. It was why he had dulled himself to his own pain, and yet why he was also more attune to that of others as he turned his attention over towards Acier, his gaze focusing on his fellow Force Sensitive.

"...I do not know your story Acier. What has led you to this moment. The choices you may have made. If you believe your choices matter, that is what is important. Your own belief. It is a luxury. Do not let anyone take that away from you."

It was not a right, to believe you mattered. Not for Thalen. It was a luxury. A foolish belief that most were able to have faith in. Whereas for him, he had his eyes opened to how little the things he did mattered in the grand scheme. It was all predestined for him. The path he took had already had the stones paved for him. All that he was needed to do was follow it.

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Ace's lips twitched... not quite a smile, not quite a grimace.

"A luxury, huh?" he echoed, eyes drifting to the side. "Guess I've been living beyond my means, then."

He leaned back slightly, one arm slung over the back of the booth as if he wasn't suddenly reeling from something far heavier. But his gaze didn't quite meet Thalen's anymore. Not yet.

"Where I come from, belief isn't some shiny thing you get to dust off when you're feeling introspective. It's duct tape. Spit. Whatever's left to keep you moving. You don't get the time to wonder if your choices matter. You make them, fast, and you live or die by whether you chose right."

His fingers tapped a rhythm on the edge of the table, but the words weren't coming fast. They were deliberate. Bitten off between pauses.

"I think you're the lucky one, you know. To be able to think like that. About fate. About the Force."

Now he looked back at Thalen, his voice lower, tighter. But still laced with his signature dryness.

"I mean, if the Force really planned all of that? Crime, war, murder, and every other horrible thing you can think of? Then I gotta say, it's got a pretty messed up sense of humor."

He shrugged one shoulder. Maybe he was speaking from a place of ignorance, or stubbornness. Maybe his lack of training in the philosophy of the Force gave him a more practical perspective.

He let the silence linger for a breath longer than necessary, eyes lowering to the table, not really seeing it. Something about this whole conversation had wedged itself under his skin. Not anger, not disbelief. Just... something he couldn't name yet.

"…It's weird," he muttered, more to the air than to Thalen. "Sometimes I get this feeling. Like I'm not where I'm supposed to be. Like I was meant for something else, or nothing at all... but somehow I slipped through the cracks."

His brows furrowed. The weight of his own words hit him a second after they'd left his mouth.

"I don't know. Maybe that's just survivor's guilt dressed up as destiny." He gave a half-shrug and tried to shake it off with a smirk, forcing the weight out of his voice "Either way, if the Force's plan involves me, it's clearly off its game."

He let the silence hang for a second, then gave a dry exhale that might've passed for a laugh if you squinted.

"…Damn. That got heavy. We just met and we're already debating the meaning of life"

Ace rubbed the back of his neck, as if trying to physically shake off the weight of what he'd just said. His tone lightened a touch - guarded still, but not as sharp.

"Anyway. You owe me a drink, remember?"

He didn't smile exactly, but his mouth tugged into a faint smirk as he nodded toward the bar, like he'd just wrestled a shadow back into place.

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

Thalen let Acier speak. He didn't speak up. He didn't react to anything the man said, at least not visibly. He just kept his fingers linked together and listened as much as he could. It was what he did best. It was only after Acier had said that Thalen was lucky, did he finally speak himself once more, his gaze staring off into space as if reliving a moment.

"...Is it lucky to know that no matter what choice you make, you'll hurt your family? Is it lucky to be ripped away from your siblings and friends, to be taught that you don't matter? That only the wishes of your family matters. That you don't exist as a person. You are a tool of your family. An object. And that you have no free will. Is that truly lucky to you?"

His tone wasn't raised. Nor did he show any sign of frustration. Mostly because it would be pointless for him to do so. He could let himself start to get aggressive, he could refute what Thalen had said. But why did it matter? What would happen if he got aggressive? If he denied being lucky? Nothing. It wouldn't fix anything. It wouldn't solve anything. Not for him. Not for Acier. And whilst others might have despaired at that, Thalen was calm. Cool. Collected.

"...You assume the Force cares about Us. The Living. Yet do not forget, there is both the Dark Side and Light Side of the Force. Some may say we influence it with our own emotions. Perhaps it influences us. I am unsure. I have...never seemed to lean to one side or the other. I can not bring the anger needed for the Dark Side. Nor can I bring the compassion needed for the Light. Though do not assume this is me telling you that you are wrong. Perhaps I am. Perhaps we both are. We may never know."

And then once again, Thalen listened. It was clear that there was some form of trauma in Acier. Thalen did not see himself as a therapist. He couldn't fix trauma. He couldn't help it heal. But he could try and help people face it. He could act as a mirror for them to look in as he watched Acier.

"You have not slipped through the cracks Acier. Otherwise we would never have met. Yes, my belief does mean that all of the bad things in the Galaxy happen are at the Will of the Force, but so are the good things. Even if you don't feel you belong, I am sure you will find somewhere. It depends on where your path takes you. Perhaps you shall become a Noble Jedi, with tales of your heroism recited for those to remember. Perhaps a ferocious Sith, who becomes the thing of nightmares for generations. Maybe you shall do neither. All that is important is that you let your heart shine your path, bright enough for all to see. I lost my own heart many years ago. My path and I shall be forgotten."

Almost as evident to that, he let his voice trail off, letting the faint breeze in the cantina carry his words away. And then almost in the blink of an eye, he broke out into that small smile. The one he had earlier. A quiet smile. Though it would be apparent to Acier that there was no warmth whatsoever in it. If anything, it was a mask. A defensive mechanism as Thalen nodded.

"Yes. I do. Please, order whatever you like. My family's credits are yours. To...repay you for listening to my ramblings. I have...not been able to talk to someone like this for a long time."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Ace was silent. His eyes lingered on Thalen, but not really. He wasn't looking at him, more through him. Processing. Something about what the other man had said gnawed at the walls Ace kept so carefully built.

Maybe he'd gotten him wrong. Maybe privilege didn't always come wrapped in comfort and opportunity. Maybe sometimes it looked like cold halls, expectations, and chains you couldn't see. Thalen hadn't been spared hardship, that much was clear now. But it had shaped him into someone who'd... settled. Someone who moved like the galaxy had already decided where he was allowed to go. Like he'd made peace with the idea of never steering the ship.

Ace's brow furrowed faintly, his voice low when it finally came.

"No... I guess not." he admitted, almost reluctantly. "But to see the galaxy like that - where every outcome's part of some grand design? Where nothing you do is really your fault, or your choice, 'cause it was always meant to happen? That's lucky."

He watched Thalen, watched the way his words folded into the air like they were truths he'd repeated to himself too many times to question. There was something raw in it. Not desperation, but something close. Like a man still bleeding but convinced the wound was cosmetic. Well, there was one thing they could at least agree on - maybe they were both wrong, maybe they'd never know. And that, that brought Ace a sense of comfort.

Ace's jaw shifted. Just slightly. Just enough. He leaned forward again, elbows on the table. Not confrontational, but grounded. Less like a man leaning in to talk, more like one bracing for impact.

Maybe the difference between Acier and Thalen was that Thalen viewed paths like they were already laid out. Like it was just a matter of choosing to walk it or not. Ace? He had to hack his out. No trail. No signposts. Just dark, and noise, and teeth. So if the Force really does have a grand design? He felt like he wasn't on the blueprint. He was a mistake somebody left in the margins.

Thalen still seemed receptive to buying him that drink, he was spending his family's credits, so it made sense. Ace could feel something from Thalen... but he hid his feelings well, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was the crystal-eyed man was feeling. Ace felt a sense of kinship toward Thalen as well.

"Appreciate it, and hey, I get it." he smiled weakly, not at Thalen, but more in reflection at their circumstances "People like us. Wanderers. It can get lonely..." he glanced away, lamentful.

A moment passed before he glanced back at Thalen again.

"Ever tried the Scarif Slush? It's good. Non-alcoholic too."

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

"Whereas I believe it's lucky to be able to believe your choice matters. To be able to believe you can change things. To believe that the fates that can befall your loved ones can be changed. Believing that it's not my fault, does not mean it still doesn't hurt. I've just learned...that it is pointless to show pain. It helps no-one."

He kept his fingers interlocked at that, the small empty smile still on his face. Emotions were fleet. Fleeing. They did not last. In the same way that pain was only temporary, so was happiness. Anger. Suffering. Nothing lasted forever. Except for the Force. And even then, there was a chance that it would not. None of that was something he could change however. He was no hero. Nor a villain. Thalen was just a footnote in the existence of the Galaxy. He would not achieve anything but what the Force had willed him to. He was not like Acier. Thalen would have not gotten involved if he had saw someone struggling with scammers. No. He would have stood by and watched.

Either way, Thalen kept his eyes focused on Acier's for another short moment. He could feel that Acier was someone who had to struggle for survival. Something Thalen hadn't ever had to do himself. If anything, he had been treasured by his family. At least the elder family members. His siblings and those younger than him had always seemed to resent him for nothing he could quite control himself. It was what had led to his feelings of loneliness. His isolation. His elders didn't see him as a person. They had saw him as an object. A recorder in a way. Whereas his siblings and juniors had saw him as some kind of waste. It...had hurt Thalen. But now it was something he had seemingly accepted, as the smile on his face didn't leave for a moment.

"Hm? Scarif Slush? No. I have not. I've...mostly just kept to water when I can. I was raised to be wary of whatever I drank when I was at home. Had to keep an eye out for poisons, or anything rotten my siblings would try to give me as a prank."

A prank. Yes. Them trying to poison Thalen or make him sick was seen as just a simple prank by him. Either way, he finally unlinked his fingers from each other so he could reach a hand into his robes and pull out the credit chit he used to pay for the important things.

"I suppose nothing hurts with having one now however?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Acier reflected on Thalen's words once again. He understood, even empathised with Thalen's reasoning for disagreeing with Ace. However, his belief on the futility of showing pain - Acier found himself agreeing with that. But maybe for different reasons. Not allowing one's self to show pain meant that their was less of a chance of someone using that pain against you, or worse.

He sniffed "Each to their own, huh." and then followed it up with another shrug.

Thalen confessed he hadn't tried a Scarif Slush, explaining that it was borne out of vigilance. Ace respected that. Thalen mentioned poison and siblings, which made him wonder if the caution to poison laced beveridges were linked to his social status. Maybe Thalen came from a prominent family. Growing up, Ace had heard all about the dynamics of high society and how rivalling aristocratic families could be as deadly and sinister as the gangs in the underworld.

His mind then drifted to Thalen's siblings, a smirk crept on the corner of his lip in response. Ace never had siblings of his own, but the closest to that were the other kids he grew up with at the orphanage. The need to be wary of what goes in your drink or food because of mischevious children was an experience he knew all too well.

"That's the spirit!" Ace exclaimed "You ain't gotta worry about poison here, though. No one cares about you... unless you give 'em reason to." it was simultaneously a form of reassurance and warning for Thalen to do his best to keep his head down. However, he was confident the man was capable of doing so.

Ace called out to one of the droid servers, who promptly made haste to the pair's table. After requesting two Scarif Slushes, the service droid was gone as fast as he arrived. He watched as it wandered away to get their drinks. Even for a droid, the poor guy looked overwhelmed by all the orders he had to take. Must've been an old model, or hadn't gone under any maintenance in a while if it was struggling with taking drink orders.

Facing Thalen once more, he raised his brow and eyed the man with interest.

"So, you have some training. How come you aren't with the Jedi?" he asked in a low tone "Or Sith."

Thalen Dhorain

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

"Yes. Each to their own."

Thalen let his voice trail off at that. Because that was the truth at the end of the day. He didn't want to change Acier's beliefs. Thalen wanted the man to be able to have the belief that Thalen couldn't. It was something he couldn't have. Not anymore. It was the same way like when you don't want to get rid of a child's innocence. Not to say that he believed Acier was innocent or naive. It was just like...when a child become aware of the real world for the first time. They couldn't go back. In the same way that Thalen could no longer go back to what he believed was an innocent belief.

He had already been keeping his head down as much as he could, so whilst the advice was appreciated, it wasn't necessarily something Thalen had needed. If he had wanted to, he could have fought those scammers earlier, but it would have helped make him stand out. It was better to be seen as a helpless tourist than someone who could be dangerous. People paid attention to danger. He didn't want strangers to care about him, especially when at the end of the day he wouldn't care about strangers. They didn't matter.

"Hm? I told you earlier. I don't have the right...aptitude for the Jedi. Nor the Sith."

A few glances went sent towards the pair, as Thalen made no attempt to lower his voice. He'd look in the direction of those glances, and give them a small harmless wave and a smile. Hopefully they'd just think he's some kind of crazy person. He knew how to play into that at the very least.

"I don't have the...care and compassion that Jedi should have. The Jedi want the Galaxy to be a better place. To uplift the weak. Whereas...I do not care. I could help lift someone up, only for someone else to suffer from their actions. The Sith want powe. Strength. Suffering. They want the Galaxy to be theirs, or on fire. Whereas once again, I do not care. I could rip someone down, only for their enemies to be have a better life."

He held his hands up in the air almost defensively. Thalen did not lean towards one side or the other. At least on the surface. If you looked deeper at Thalen, he leaned towards the light. A faint aura of warmth hidden deep inside of him. So hidden within the cold surface, that even Thalen himself had forgotten about it.

"...What's your reasoning? We both know you could arguably be better off if you got teaching from either group."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Ord Mantell - Ord Mantell City

Equipment:
Standard Outfit | Lightsaber | Modified DL-27

Ace's eyes darted to the sudden attention brought on to them. Then he glanced at Thalen who simply offered smile and wave to the other patrons. Ace's head hung low slightly and he shook his head, following it up with a quiet sigh. Once more, he covertly scanned the cantina's patrons to see if they were still paying attention to the pair. Thankfully, they went back to their business.

"Yeah, you did." Ace confirmed "But, I wasn't satisfied." he teased, smirking at the slightly older man.

He listened to Thalen's explanation. The man with the crystal eye revealed that it wasn't so much as his strength in the Force - but his character that made him ill-fitted to either Jedi or Sith. Acier listened attentively, nodding along every few words.

Thalen really didn't seem to care about anything. Or maybe, he was a man tired of caring. He couldn't quite decipher what his deal was. All he knew was, all that he felt through the Force, was that everything pointed to a man that had seemingly given up. He was tired.

Ace scratched the back of his neck when Thalen returned the question to him.

"It's not my priority." he answered plainly "I can handle myself just fine, the Force is just a little bonus. Right now, I have more important things to do than serve either groups. I don't even know if I even believe in either cause."

Ace remained coy about his motivations, giving Thalen just enough so he'd get the point.

His words barely had any time to settle before the server droid rolled up with a cheerful chirp, placing a tall frosted glass in front of each of them. The Scarif Slush shimmered under the cantina's hazy lights. A layered blend of deep blue and pale gold, the top crowned with a small wedge of sunfruit. The droid buzzed a polite, "Enjoy," before whirring off to its next table.

The white-haired youth looked toward Thalen with a confident smirk. He gestured toward Thalen's glass in front of him and nodded at him.

"Go ahead. It's a step up from just plain water."

If there was one thing he could do today, maybe it was to get Thalen to live a little. Maybe actually find a little joy in existing.

Thalen Dhorain
​

 

[Thalen Dhorain]

Tags: Acier Moonbound

Serving a cause. That was something that Thalen was not entirely opposed to himself. After all, he was a tool to be used. Yet he was pleased that Acier didn't see himself as one. That he wouldn't throw himself into a cause that he doesn't believe in. It made him smile, even honestly somewhat. There wasn't any warmth in the smile, but it wasn't...quite as empty as it normally was.

"...Then why don't you believe in your own cause? And who knows. There might be like-minded people. You could make your own Order. All it takes is one person willing to work alongside you, and it can snowball from there."

The smile broke out into a fake grin, a teasing one. Almost as if Thalen couldn't let himself have an actual smile. That he had to hide behind some kind of joke as he leaned back in the booth for a moment.

"Of course, whilst I am joking about that, it is important to find like-minded people. I am sure that will help you...find your place in the Galaxy. Remember. You are the people you surround yourself with."

His eyes went over towards the Scarif Slush as it came over, and he raised an eyebrow at the sight of the blue liquid. The shimmering was a nice added touch, though he doubt it was intentional. It was possibly just a coincidence as he reached out to take the glass, taking a hard long look at it, as if checking it for any toxins.

"If you say so."

And with that, Thalen took a swig of the drink. It tasted...nice. Flavourful. Chilled. One could even say it was delicious, and for a moment that same smile came to Thalen's face, before it faded away, alongside the taste. Like anything good thing, it didn't last. Not forever. Yet he took another swig to just enjoy the moment. It would be a moment that would probably be forgotten about in the future. The taste would be forgotten...yet perhaps the memories of the meeting wouldn't be if he thought about it.

"...I agree. It is quite a step above standard water. I can see myself ordering this another day."