Public Constellations No Longer Charted [Ossus]

[Scherezade deWinter]

Well that was a downer. All she got was a simple no, without any explanations or attempts or even a show of will to take the box away from her. So unless that person was going to play with her, she was going to have to figure it out on her own.

"Always bend at the knees," she smiled as she crouched, picked the box up in a way that made it seem like its weight had little effect on her, and then straightened up again, holding it in both hands. "Protecting the back is important," she nodded firmly.

And started walking away, box firmly in her grip.

Avarice

 

[Avarice]

Avarice watched the peculiar woman and squinted at her." Hmnn... " He followed after her padding behind. " You intend on carrying that up... all those stairs?" He asked lightly morbidly curious as top who this odd lady was. He seemed non violent. Her certainly looked the picture of a young sith with the dark broody attire. "Do you even know what might be in there?"

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Not a single clue!" she said with a chipper voice, her legs moving to the first step before she paused to turn around, glowing green eyes looking at the stranger. "You coming?"


Avarice

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter

He laughed at that, an odd, hesitant laugh that grew louder in an almost incredulous manner. "Hells… why not?" He padded after her, making sure she didn't hurt herself as she ascended the stairs. He kept a small bit of space between them. "I imagine it's some old artifact, to have been sealed away like that… perhaps a remnant that was overlooked," he suggested, watching her curiously.

His posture had relaxed now, his expression one of simple curiosity to see what she might have discovered in the box. The upstairs was just as they had left it, the ruins of a vast library room.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

When you were confronted by strangers in dark mythical places that paid both home and homage to ancient uber secrets that had to do with the Force, and you weren't necessarily looking for a fight, there were a few simple rules one had to abide by.

1. Keep the other party interested – some people did that by being exceptionally witty, super smart, or alluring. Scherezade knew she was pretty, but she also knew she was better equipped with blades than with words, and the whole alluring thing was usually a hit or miss. So she did it in other ways. Namely, like pretending everything was perfectly fine while she made some very questionable decisions.​

"Oh, it's older than old," she nodded, walking up the stairs. Large as she was, her cardio was in peak condition. You couldn't call yourself any kind of a Warrior if you didn't. "It also doesn't want to be opened," she added, skipping a few more steps.

2. Offer them food – this one really peaks for itself, doesn't it? Everybody liked food.​

"Hey, you hungry?" she asked as she paused, turning around on the stairs, "I've got some really nice wursts on my ship, I can bring them out and we can eat as we think what else this could be."

3. Make sure that saying 'no' is not a good option.​

Because if the person said no and then tried to take what was now her box in every way that counted, one kick could potentially easily make them roll down all these long, sharp, annoying stairs.

Avarice

 

[Avarice]

He tilted his head slightly. What was a wurst?

"Did you make them?" he asked curiously, wondering if it was food she had prepared herself. It mattered somehow, if it was hers, it was different. There was a kind of courtesy in partaking of food made by another, a small rite in itself.

To eat together was to break bread with another was a symbolic act, a simple gesture of trust and respect shared over the table.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"Of course," Scherezade replied instantly with the kind of natural vibe that only those who had achieved a pure master rank in the kitchen had, "Got all kinds of different wursts too. I hunt for most of my food, and I love meat preservation, so I've got Womp Rat, Nerf, Bogwing, Anooba…" she paused, thinking, "oh, I think the Skreefish meat is already done getting smoked too, if you're feeling adventurous!"

But she did not forget. Not that she had the high ground (x) on Avarice and could still kick him all the way down without losing balance and without losing her newly acquired chest of mystery.

"I think I also have a bunch of bantha wings left if you're more conservative with your choice of meat," she added, "also Schereade-made, of course!"

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter
"Alright… do you like red tea?" Avarice asked at last, his tone light but edged with curiosity. He tilted her head, wondering if the other might prefer the warmth of spiced leaves over something simpler.

By the time he finally reached the top of the stairs, he did not press in close but kept a respectful distance. His steps slowed, lingering just enough... For now he was content to watch, curiosity carrying him along.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

At the mention of tea, Scherezade's nose almost curled into itself as she made a face before continuing their ascension out of the area. "No," she answered, as if her facial expressions hadn't made it clear enough, "I drink cream. And water."

At the top of the stairs, she set the chest down, and then put her foot on it. Her arms were free to stretch out and that what was exactly what she did, moaning in delight before picking the chest back up.

Her ship was close enough. They only had a few minutes of walking left.

"How'd you discover this place?" she asked Avarice , tone casual, "Are you one of those who wake up one morning and decide, hey, let's go find something in Force-ruins?"

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter

He warily watched her carry the large crate, perhaps wondering why she hadn't fetched some kind of repulsor-lift dolly to transport the heavy box instead. She certainly seemed to be earning whatever lay within.

Cream? He wondered if that meant she liked things like chocolate milk.
"What about citrus and mint?" he asked lightly, padding along after her.

He filed away the bit of information, that she didn't like the sound of tea, for later use.

"I mean… if I had leisure time, yes. But no. I came here because this was once the heart of Jedi learning and knowledge. I came seeking knowledge of the past… and guidance."

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"I can eat lemons," she answered, "Don't like mint though."

Of course, she didn't have to tell the guy why she didn't like mint. There was something about letting someone else know that the reason you hated mint was that someone you were once in love with but had then shattered your heart and drove you to trying to erase yourself from existence made you loath the way he smelled, but it sort of seemed like too intimate of a thing to say in their current situation.

At the mention of Jedi learning though, she snorted.

"The past is easy," she mentioned without expanding on the why. No need to let him know about the blood yet. "Guidance?" Scherezade echoed, thinking it over a moment. "You want to live your life well. Is that guidance-ish enough?"

Because she wasn't going to part willingly with the chest.

And now the both of them came up to where the Giggledust was parked. Scherezade let the chest fall to her feet and waved her hand lazily in the air. A side compartment of the ship opened, and out floated some plastic lawn chairs and a table.

"Make yourself comfortable," she said, picking the stupid chest up again, only now starting the feel the weight of it, "I'll be right back with the food."


Avarice

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter
Oh… she was certainly a woman who knew what she liked, and, better yet, what she didn't. He understood this as a domineering trait in her personality. Still, he listened to what she had to say about life.

"Easier said than done…" he murmured, watching with morbid curiosity as the ship spat out a table and chairs that drifted gently into place.

That was neat.... Fancy, even. He watched her leave, then glanced back at the chest. His eyes flicked between where she had gone and the object before him… He looked back towards her... then the chest... then back towards her... then the chest...

He sighed heavily, his brows furrowing.

Padding off, he disappeared for a time, only to return with a pitcher of lemonade, no mint in it this time. He came back with two glasses, setting them on the table before pouring each one over ice. A splash of sweet raspberry and strawberry juice tinted the drink a delicate pink hue.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Avarice

It was only a minute or two before Scherezade emerged back from her ship, a few tupperware boxes in hand, two pitchers floating after her, one full of wonderful cold cream, and the other one with water. Her glowing gaze set on the pitchers brought forth by the guy, and she smiled. Good manners were always welcome. And, now she knew he had a ship or lodging nearby.

She set the boxes on the table along with a small amount of chopsticks and then opened them one by one. For a moment she paused, realizing she had forgotten to bring plates, so she banged her fist against the side of her ship to open yet another hidden compartment, and pulled two plates and a few empty beer glasses out of it. All clean, of course.

Honestly, her aunt originally using that ship to smuggle spice was such a waste. It was much better as a party ship, if the parties were had outside of it.

"I'm Scherezade," she introduced herself as she sat down, letting her body naturally relax into the back of the seat. Force, that box had been heavier than it looked. Then she noticed the pink drink, and her eyes lit up.... Just a little.

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter
Avarice moved to take off his mask… and then a second mask beneath it, revealing a deceptively simple, almost objectively 'pretty' face, and two burning red eyes. It was soft featured symmetrical and almost doll like. Scars marked either side of that face: an "X" carved into the left cheek, and a single vertical cut on the right. Slender fingers clipped the masks to his belt with practiced ease.

"That is a pretty name," he chirped softly, his tone light. "Not one I have heard before." A faint smile touched his lips as he inclined his head. "You may call me Avarice," he offered gently in reply.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade didn't stop moving as Avarice removed the first mask. Not when he removed the second one either. She did look at his face with interest, taking the details in, and not trying to hide her actions in any way, though her hands continued to take some of the various meats out of the containers and pour herself a mixture of the pink liquid provided with her own cream.

Once her hands were done though, she put her elbows on the table, and rest her chin on her hands, still looking at him. The Sithling took a deep breath in, letting the scent of Avarice's blood enter her senses. There was no perfume, soap, or sweat, that could hide one's blood-smell, which made things easier sometimes.

But in this case, it absolutely did not help. She smelled the Echani in him, and a whiff of something that wasn't Echani but was close enough to human for her to count it as such for the time being.

"What were you hoping to find in my chest?" she asked, going back to breathing normally, "the box, I mean."

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter
He copied her motions with his own drink before joining her at the table. The glass turned a faint purple hue form the colors mixing.
"Not sure. Though experience has taught me to be wary of sealed boxes, oftentimes they're sealed for a reason," Avarice offered softly in reply.

He lifted the cup, sipping through strawberry-pink lips, testing the flavor on his tongue.

"It's good," he said simply. "Perhaps you'd like to tell me what's in it ?"He offered her a coy smirk.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

As he had mimicked her own motions, she now mimicked his, and took a sip from her own blue drink at the same time. It wasn't yucky, but she still wasn't certain that she liked it enough to make another one. Maybe the green cream would work better with that lemonade Avarice had offered.

"If I'm lucky?" she answered with a careless shrug, "a piece of schematics I've been chasing around the galaxy for."

It had been her sole reason for coming back from beyond the galaxy's rim. Life beyond the rim had been… A lot better than it had been in the galaxy. But there was no denying it, she had been curious, though it hadn't cost her any lives so far. And with every day that passed, it seemed she was going to have more and more reasons to stay.

"Never been scared of unsealing things though," she grinned and took a bite from one of one of the sausages, "that's not where the scary things are."

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter
"Schematics? For what do you intend to build, I wonder…" he mused aloud. Perhaps she was simply a collector of old things... perhaps wanting it for her trove, or merely for bragging rights.

He reached out, plucking a small piece of the meaty morsel, turning it over in his fingers before lifting it closer. "What all is in this?" he asked curiously.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

"No idea," she grinned from ear to ear, "I only have a few pieces, but not enough to be able to make out what the puzzle is going to look like when it's done."

And that was pretty much it, about that subject. Could it be a weapon? Sure. Could it be a massive starship? Sure. Could it be a really weird blocks house? Also sure. While the Sithling did assume it was something of a potential dangerous kind, she still had no actual idea. Hopefully, if she got that stupid chest open at some point, she'd be able to figure it out. But even if she didn't, she'd still be one step closer to understanding what it was that demanded her attention so.

"That particular bite," she said, motioning to the piece still held by Avarice , "is Skeerfish. It's usually used as gelatine to bind sausages together, but I decided to see what it tastes like all on its own, so I mixed it with spices and stuff. The flavor kind, not the drug kind. It's okay, I guess. Reminds me of nerf. But, I also used it for this," she grinned, and gently pushed another Tupperware towards him, "Anooba sausage. I didn't even know they were edible, but one tried to eat me, so I decided I'd just eat him instead."

 

[Avarice]

Scherezade deWinter

So… curiosity drove her actions. It was a freeing concept... one he embodied often enough himself. He couldn't fault her for such a hobby in the slightest.

He decided to take a nibble of what was offered. "It's… interesting in texture," he remarked lightly before finishing off the small morsel. Certainly more appetizing than Wookiee fare, as far as he was concerned.

Still, he found himself missing the quiet moments when he could dedicate time to preparing a proper meal, something delicious to share with others. A soft sigh escaped the acolyte as his gaze drifted back toward the box. "There is Force-suppression resin within it… I presume it holds some sort of artifact. Either something dangerous, or something the Jedi of old wished never to be found. Perhaps even a replica of some grand relic from yesteryear," he offered simply.

"I am searching for holocrons, and interested in gathering knowledge," he added lightly. The thought of strange meats didn't sit well with him; anything that might once have been a fluffy, endearing creature when young made him wary. So he abstained, unless she insisted he try something else.