A Zeltrochiss & a Zabrak Walk Into a Bar... (Zatten Black)

[Avery Rose Garter]

"Well, then I'd say it would be unseemly for us to leave before this little spat resolves itself. Or until we have to dive in, guns blazing. Either approach is fine with me, though I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to show off a bit." She returned his wink and let one hand drop to the blaster at her hip, instantly alert for anything out of the ordinary. "Might have to do that change of yours, again. Maybe one of our friends will actually try to exorcise you this time. Wouldn't that just add spice to things."
Kadrak shrugged. "I can't think of many things that are fun to do solo, myself. It's always nice to have someone else to talk to, drink with, fight with and just be around." She glanced to those at the front door. "Wait, no, I take that back. Guys like that, those are definitely the exceptions. Unless we're counting shooting at them, in which case there's nothing more fun."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

"Do the change again, eh? Since you asked so nicely, m'dear..."

My eyes blazed red again, the iris and pupil of each one disappearing into the red. So, I looked like a pink Chiss now. I drew Bloodtooth again, and I grinned with a slightly sharper set of teeth than before.

"This is, I guess, your party, Kadrak. Go ahead and pick your targets."

I gestured at the biggest and nastiest-looking Nikito of the bunch.

"Except for that guy. I'm gonna wreck him."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

"Hmm, I can't say I'm too picky, really. Whoever shoots first, and..." Kadrak studied the group, looking to each one of them separately to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Eventually she settled on one, and pointed to the Twi'lek male with twin blaster pistols at each side. "Him. I've always liked a challenge of sorts, and he looks to be one. Besides, I've not had a good gunfight in some time. Well, not what you'd consider a real one."
She drew her own blaster and flicked the safety off the second time that night, shrugging. "I wouldn't say it's my party, necessarily. More of a shared endeavor. And anyway, they're in our way for us to leave, and even if we asked nicely, well..." She shot him a grin. "I'm not too good at that with guys who just look like they're asking for it. Or at all, sometimes. But you, see, you're special." She stuck her tongue out at him.

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

"I'm always asking for it."

I grinned even wider, my teeth showing sharper points, and had an idea. With the Force, I picked up a half-finished beer.

"What if we had some... entertainment?"

I floated the beer up, to interpose itself between the Nikto and the huge Twi'lek gunman, and made the beer jostle, sending dark yellow liquid onto both of them. The Nikto shouted something unintelligible, and grabbed one of the other gangster's Lekku.

"Wish we had popcorn."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak couldn't help but laugh quietly, watching the ensuing fight for a moment before turning to Zatten with a grin. "You know how to put on a show, I'll give you that. By the time all of this has settled itself we'll be able to walk out without a problem. You're quite the entertainer." She winked. "And as for popcorn, well...I have your company, so I have to say I'm satisfied enough with things."
She holstered her weapon and checked to be sure the safety was on, continuing to study the grapple between the two men. It was evident that they were more than a match for each other, and had fought before at some point, with the way they seemed to predict the other's blows. And the entire ordeal was due to something so simple.
"You'd think they would have better things to fight about than a little spilled beer. Of course, there probably isn't many reasons to take up arms for them, other than the occasional territorial dispute, if that. Everyone's always looking for an excuse to be at each others throats."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

"They don't need a reason to fight, really. They're pugnacious little bastards, aren't they?"

As my adrenaline went down, my teeth, eyes, and face went back to normal. I smiled at Kadrak again.

"Hypothetically, we could walk out of here, and go someplace quieter. To talk a little while. Hypothetically."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

"That is one way to put it, I suppose. There are a few more colorful words to use, a few of them in my native tongue. But I only save that for when I don't want the other person to understand me. This wouldn't be one of those times, with people like them." Kadrak shrugged, stretching again and glancing to the fight once more, finding the scenario hadn't changed much. If the gangsters were anything, they certainly weren't all that original in their fighting style. At least against each other.
She returned his smile and nodded. "I definitely wouldn't mind. Alone time with you sounds like fun to me. Though I couldn't help but sense an innuendo or two under those carefully chosen words of yours."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I rolled my eyes jokingly.

"Oh, innuendo? How rude of me. Especially since the innuendo was intentional."

I finished with a little theatrical gasp, and winked at her.

"Y'know, Kadrak, I believe it would be a genuine shame if we didn't go out for a walk on a nice evening like this. I mean, look, it's not even raining acid today! And you can ask anything you want about me. I might dramatize or exaggerate, but there's always truth in there, somewhere."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak laughed softly and shook her head, reaching over to nudge him playfully. "And my response still stands, you know. Alone time with you sounds like the best time. Even if all we end up doing is talking, it's better than staying here all night. Not that I didn't enjoy the fun we had and the fights we started and ended, but it'll be nice to get out of the noise and into the cool air. And the quiet. And, I'll say it again, the chance for us to just be. Though there's always a chance we might run into trouble out there. Life wouldn't be as interesting if there wasn't always someone plotting to kill you, right?"
She winked at him. "And once we get back to this walker of yours, you might have earned yourself a kiss or two. You'll find that I can be even more flirty when we aren't around others."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

"Sure, we can go back to the walker. You can even drive it, if you want. Might be nice to see you at the wheel."

I grinned again, but it faded as the Twi'lek finally pointed down towards the bar with one obvious sentiment: Hey, if we blast the crap out of the bar, we won't have to deal with flying liquor, any more.

"I have a feeling we're going to have more than our share of fun tonight, beautiful. Rough 'em up, or give them a more terminal issue?"

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

"You know, I've worked on plenty machines in my life, even operated a few and flown a ship once or twice, but now that I think about it I don't believe I've ever had the opportunity to drive a walker. Of course, from the sound of things, I might have just the chance to remedy that. And I might want to tinker with it as well, if you'll give me the chance." She returned his grin.
But just as his faded so did hers, and she studied the Twi'lek male for a long moment, slowly drawing her blaster pistol as she watched him steadily. "It all depends on how they so kindly receive us. But from past experience I'm figuring that this will have to end up as a more terminal thing. Wonder what gave them the common sense to finally attack the source of the problem. Usually they aren't so quick to catch on. I have to say, I'm a bit impressed."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

"Well, the occupational hazard of sudden brain trauma, like a lekku getting pulled on, is that it tends to distract one from their immediate predicament, and makes them think in ways they wouldn't usually think. That lucky Twi'lek seems to have noticed us watching, and have noted the presence of an actual bar here. Doesn't take a genius to make the mental leap."

I grinned, and sheathed Blacktooth.

"I'm not even gonna stab them. Fists'll be enough for those jokers. First one to take their target down gets the blanket."

I winked at Kadrak, and sent another glass flying into the Nikto's head. He glared, and leapt down from the staircase he was now standing on, putting up hammer-like fists and leering at me and Kadrak.

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak only grinned, sliding her blaster back into its holster, meeting the Nikto's leering gaze with a wink and half smile of her own. "Sounds like a plan to me. I suppose I'll be using my fists as well. But I'll find a way to get the blanket, one way or another. You seem to be underestimating me in that department. I have my own little tricks, you know. Some of them you might not even be aware of, believe it or not. However surprising that may be." She stuck her tongue out at him, turning to study their new company.
The Twi'lek would go for his blasters first, that was inevitable. But provided she found cover quickly enough and move fast while making herself a small target, even that shouldn't be an issue. And once things got more up close and personal, disarming him would be the easy part.
She looked to Zatten with another grin. "Ready to go?"

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

"All you had to say was 'go'"

I leapt off my chair, using the bar for leverage, and opened my palm, so the heel would end up directly in the Nikto's scaly nose. But it didn't. The big guy whacked me on the ribs, sending me sprawling, and then stepped closer to pound down on me.

"Oh, goodie, a playground bully. Like I didn't meet enough of those."

I leapt again, this time pushing the Force into a hard edge around my right leg, which I spun into the Nikto's face. This time, he staggered, and I continued, flashing a burst of energy from my fist that sent him reeling. I grinned at the scaly bruiser, and gestured for him to come closer.

"I've fought people bigger and smarter than you. You don't impress me."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak watched the two of them for a few moments before turning her attention back to the Twi'lek, who had already drawn his blasters and found adequate cover. Part of her wondered why he hadn't started shooting yet, but she figured he hadn't accounted for the fact that she would entirely disregard the weapon that would make this fight an even one. That was his loss, she supposed. It just meant that, for the time being, she would be able to maneuver closer.
"Or, you know, not." She muttered, crouching low as he fired and studying the surrounding area for serviceable cover, knowing the man would figure out just why he hadn't managed to hit what he was aiming at the first time quickly enough. She settled for ducking behind a table that had been overturned earlier that night, switching from that to around a corner and finally coming at the man himself, taking him by surprise and sending one of his blaster pistols well out of reach.
"Hello there."

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

The Nikto came back at me, swinging his gigantic, scaled fist. I ducked, leapt over his incoming foot, and grinned as I pushed another bolt of Force energy into his chest. He went sprawling, and I jumped away, onto the stairs, as he got back up, a murderous light in his eyes, and a short sword in his fist. I just rolled my eyes, and let my transformation take over again. My assailant shuddered when he saw my eyes turn red.

"Oh, boy, we got a badass over here."

I didn't even draw Bloodtooth, simply preferring to pull a wire from my glove, and throw it around his sword arm, causing him to loosen his grip and waste a few seconds shifting his hand to make it easier to slash me.

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

As the Twi'lek turned and shot an elbow towards her stomach Kadrak sidestepped, still wary of the weapon he held in his other hand. Keeping inside of his punching range had certainly helped things, but it had caused a few closed shaves with his shooting as well. She jumped his low sweep kick, backing up as he began to raise his weapon again and ducked behind one of the pillars below the terrace, muttering a quiet curse. That was the second or third time she had come close to disarming him and finishing things, but he always managed to shoot at the last moment, forcing her to keep her distance.
With a quiet sigh of frustration she moved from cover to cover, thankful that the man apparently didn't know how to lead or follow moving targets all that well. That, at least, happened to be in her favor.

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

The Nikto tromped up to me, grimacing and slashing his sword through the air loudly. Showboating, if I'd ever seen it. I leapt back off the stairs, landing back down on the flat floor of the bar area. Of course, the cable attached to the scaly man's wrist sent him falling down after me, as my glove pulled on my end. I realized where he was going to fall, and I grinned, throwing a bolt of energy at the Twi'lek that was shooting at Kadrak.

"Heads up, Kadrak... It's raining lizards."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]

 

[Avery Rose Garter]

Kadrak stepped back under the overhang of the terrace, watching as the Twi'lek was sent sprawling by the bolt of energy, glancing to where the Nikto had fallen before looking to Zatten with a grin and a shake of her head. I'll still find a way to get that blanket, you know. Unless you had more in mind for our friends here, of course. They seem like a bit of a sad bunch to me."
She walked over to where the Twi'lek's blaster pistol had fallen from his grip, picking it up and turning it over in her hands, studying the make, model and the minor modifications fitted. "Not too bad a piece of technology, and I'd take it if I wasn't so fond of my own. But as it were..." With a few tweaks here and there and the press of a button she let the weapon fall again, finding its twin and doing the same. "There. Now he'll have to work to shoot again."
With that she stepped up beside Zatten. "Shall we be off?"

[member="Zatten Black"]

 

[Zatten Black]

I laughed as Kadrak blew some fuses in the Twi'lek's guns, and at her remark about the blanket. I looked over at her, and winked.

"Of course you can have the blanket... That is if you don't mind sharing?"

I walked over to her, and stuck my arm out for her to grab.

"But let's go for a walk, first... I have a feeling you know almost as much about this planet as I do."

[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]