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Bitterness and Forgiveness

Drogh

Guest
Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_Concept_Art_Atomhawk_Knowhere01.png


Vjun: Bitter End


The scent of salty air, acidic rain and the common pollution made for a strong bitter scent. It was sharp and corrosive, as if the very air was intent on breaking you down. Bitter End, a fitting name. A city that was once great, now a shadow of its former self. While it had been doing better in recent years, it could never quite live up to its former glory, it was depressing how much it reminded Drogh of Coruscant. The entire city was carved into old caves and tunnels, a great labyrinthine of a city in many ways. The cold rock shielding the city from the hail of melting rain that would strip man's flesh bare. The houses were foolishly stacked and slammed into one another, resembling poorly constructed flats, built into the caves, shops and business constructed into the very stone, it was almost impressive if everything didn't look as if they were a about to collapse. The richer districts seemed more fitting, having actual housing, although these were far and few between and often isolated from the rest of the city. And some dark reminders of the past, entire districts were empty, old sullen sunken houses, flats and the ever dreaded mental asylums, that seemed to sprung up like weeds. Madness cloaked this city, while it had waned in the coming onslaught of time, it had never entirely vanished, and for whatever reason insanity was far more prevalent here then any city on Vjun.

Drogh hated it here, it reminded him of home far to much. Yet Drogh would not inflict himself to the decaying city, he had found a nice old bar to drink his worries away. The people of Vjun were not used to outsiders coming in, so at the least that was something that made this place and Coruscant different, as odd glares and snarls were shared as the stranger wearing the black robe walked in. "The Shrieking Gull", a name that seemed fit the terrible condition this place was in. Murky old bar booths, as old greying sofas with chipped tables having a few sparse individuals drinking their days away. It was working hours so the bar was mercifully quite, with only the true dregs of society visiting such a desperate place, Drogh among their number.

Drinking had become a much more recent habit to him, sure he liked to drink but now it had become a true and genuine addiction. It was hard to go a day without drinking and his body was hating him for it. Yet if he relented, if he allowed the force to flow through him fluently, his mind would suffer in turn. There was no way to win, no way out of his own little cage. But Drogh wasn't here to feel sorry for himself, he had done enough of that, he had done that for most of his life even. He was trying to make things right, as much as he could. Ra and Drogh didn't get on, at all. Drogh totally disrespected the "master apprentice" relationship, and Ra had lashed out in turn. Exiled from Bast Castle and sent to the dog Drogh had come back from his 'punishment' of being basically beaten up. The bruises still hurt and his chest ached, yet the lesson was learned. Drogh was a liability, he knew this. And despite himself, Drogh didn't want to be one. He had contacted Ra to meet him here, to speak with her to bury the past and perhaps finally, become something more than he was.

[member="Riamah"]
 
Ra might not have been the best master around, but sometimes a loser hand was better than a tight grip. That was how she trained. Setting out the guides and paths, leaving the choice to her apprentices where they went. She had offered Drogh many chances to learn from her, but each time he had spit in her face. Everything finally capitulated at a party she had with her small movement. He had pushed her one too many times and she had snapped.

It was a blessing for him that Josh had been there or he might not have lived through the day. That lash out had been coming and was very likely what he wanted of her. Too weak to have done anything before, the opportunity had come to push one last time and he had learned a lesson. Not from her though, but from Vulps.

After that day, he had essentially been banished from Bast and now he requested her to meet with him. A place had been selected by him and Ra had agreed to meet with him. One thing that could be said about Ra and the Hand. They were everywhere now. Even within the population of Bitter End. Not wanting to stand out among the natives to Vjun, they had taken on roles and places here.

She came with a guard of two since it was only fitting. While Drogh had extended a hand, she still didn't trust him. Time would tell if he earned that. Walking into the bar, her gold eyes scanned the room and came to rest on him. A small wave kept her guards at the bar and she walked over to Drogh. Taking a seat with him, drinks were delivered and set in front of them.

"What do you want, Drogh?"

Her tone was calm and held no hint of anger. Some curiosity was there, but most of what she was thinking was kept buried.

[member="Drogh"]
 

Drogh

Guest
Drogh's cold eyes examined the women. That vibrant face, perking with a certain colour, yet held and hidden with a sullen stoicism that she had mastered. Those golden fiery eyes, burning brightly, like little blazing stars. Yet Drogh knew behind that stone fortress of emotional blockades was indeed a very lonely, vulnerable girl. Desperately yearning for love, kindness and acceptance. A small disgusted part of Drogh could relate to that, as much as he despised himself for it. Truth be told they were more alike then either would care to admit, both putting up facades of emotionless faces to hide the truth, to hide just how broken they really are. As much as he hated it, Drogh couldn't quite shake the thought that he saw something in himself when he stared at her.

Drogh was relatively pleasant, at least for his standards. He didn't offer any sly comment, or worse a vicious taunt. As the women sat down, asking her question Drogh paused for a moment, allowing silence to take its course. Then with a resentful sigh. "To apologise, for my behavior, during our last encounter." Drogh said, his face did not shift from the stone block it was, he had no insult to add or any emotion to betray, although, there was a hint of bitterness. "Now, why I brought you here?" Drogh said, allowing a small grin across his cold corpse face. "I have discovered a little secret, as I often do." Drogh said, a smugness forming in his words, for a homeless, self-loathing, alcoholic, spice addict he could often be very self absorbed, although mostly to annoy others rather then any sense of any self indulgence. "A rather disturbing secret." Drogh said, the grin fading into something that seemed to shift into unpleasantness, uncomfortable even. "A little lab, one of the Malreaxus's projects, sealed off for years, I haven't even been inside my self, but some have, they haven't returned." Drogh said, looking sternly at the bottle, muttering something under his breath, before taking a harsh swig. "I warned them." Drogh said, to himself in a sharp whisper.

[member="Riamah"]
 
It might have been obvious to somebody not so toxic that maybe Ra wasn't quite as lonely as she had been before. Her life had started to change for the better and while she still yearned for that acceptance...she had found it. First it had been with Vulps and then Josh who she had grown exceptionally close to.

She and Drogh had always had a very rocky relationship, but his words indicated that perhaps he was learning and growing with her. This was a good thing in her mind. His face did not change as he spoke and she noticed he was not wearing his mask. Was that a part of his past? The tone he had still indicated he resented her, but it wasn't enough to keep him from contacting her.

Listening to his words, an eyebrow was lifted at them. Giving him a nod, she knew what the man was good at. What secret he had was something real and not some falsehood or cheap fireside tale. When he said he had warned other explorers to not go some place...she again wondered at how much he had changed.

"And this town connects to their chateau does it not?"

[member="Drogh"]
 

Drogh

Guest
"Correct." Drogh replied. Leaning back, his posture relaxing. "It wont take us long, worth a visit." Yet another dark grin allowed it's self to pass cross his face. "As you probably know, that place has quite the reputation, it was sealed off for good reason, and I don't doubt that the people that went there are most likely dead, or worse." Drogh mused to him self for a moment, his mind trying to imagine what might have happened, not quite enjoying the thoughts he was entertaining. He took another swig from his drink, his cold eyes locking onto Ra. "This place reminds me of Coruscant in a way, don't you think?" Drogh said, he wasn't entirely sure why he said that, but he couldn't quite keep the almost forlorn nostalgia away from his tone, nor could he quite comprehend why he'd ask that question to Ra of all people. But Drogh was trying to be less of a toxic spill these days, at the very least. If he wanted a working relationship with his dear "mistress" (a title he found obnoxious to no end) he should at least try to be friendly.

[member="Riamah"]
 
"I did not think anybody had lived in the Chateau for a very long time. In a way, it was similar to Bast before the Dominion came here. Once that happened though and after they were destroyed, I moved in."

The timing of her story was slightly skewed because it was near the end of the Dominion's day when she got the castle and not after they were gone. Just a small detail, but in the long run, it didn't matter.

She took a sip of the drink between them and nodded at his question. Setting the glass down, her fingers motioned just slightly to the area around them.

"It does a bit. The people here are used to the darkness though and that works out for us. Do you feel we should scout this out ourselves or bring in our allies? This project might be more than what the two of us can handle."

[member="Drogh"]
 

Drogh

Guest
Drogh smirked, oh how nice of her. "Your choice, mistress". He said in a exaggerated tone, showing his annoyance at the rather vain title. "Why don't we get a few more drinks, I'm not quite ready to leave" Drogh said, he couldn't quite believe himself, he was doing his best to form some kind of relationship with Ra, and had managed to keep his vile spill in check. He was quite impressed with himself. "Although, sadly I don't have very many credits on me." Drogh said, doing his best at some kind of corrupted malformed puppy eyes, which just came off as perversely predatory and a slightly unhinged. As he gave his best sickly sweet smile, adding insult to injury.

[member="Riamah"]
 
Rolling her eyes at his exaggerated tone in how he addressed her, Ra reached into one of her pockets and set a credit chip on the table between them. Leaning back, she motioned to the server to bring the two of them more. Pointing at him and then the chip, she looked him in the eyes.

Her look wasn't cold and calculating like it would have been in the past. Much like when they had met, her face was now neutral again. Though they did have a rough and dirty history, steps were being taken (maybe by both of them) to try and repair what was broken.

"Money isn't an issue with me like it might have been in the past, Drogh. You always were one to waste what you earned on trying to escape your pain. But it doesn't go away, does it?"

People's lives were filled with ups and downs. How they reacted to them depended on how well they could cope with what was thrown at them. Ra had kept her pain to herself and chose not to allow people close unless they proved they were trustworthy. Very few had accomplished that with her. Drogh wasn't one of them, but she knew him well enough to know he wasn't lying to her about this lead or the fact he was low on credits.

"How many have gone in?"

[member="Drogh"]
 

Drogh

Guest
Drogh snarled silently to him self at that comment, giving Ra a restrained smirk that hid a growing anger. Drogh supposed he'd allow that comment to go unchallenged, as she was paying for the drinks. "Keep em' coming." Drogh shouted to the barkeep, he was going to take full advantage of Ra's wealth, and score a small petty revenge. "Are you going to play therapist?" Drogh said, unable to completely conceal his resentment at the words Ra had spoken, but he held his voice for now, there was no need to hit back with anything, yet.

"I'm not sure, 20 to 15 people at the top of my head, a fairly small operation." Drogh responded to the question, taking another harsh swig of the liquor.

[member="Riamah"]
 
Apparently, both of them were trying to get along, but yet they were both throwing off words or actions to drive the other one into anger. Her question wasn't meant to be answered and Drogh did not provide one to her. However, Ra did not see that paying for his drinks was any form of revenge. Deciding to ignore his question, she nodded when he provided a guess at the number of people that went into the chateau.

"Did they go in as a party or separate?"

If they had gone in together, she would have to take that into consideration when planning something. On the other side of the coin, if they had gone in separate, then they could go in as a force and might have better success.

Taking a sip of her drink, she waited on his answer.

[member="Drogh"]
 

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