Drinking All My Cares Away

[Katrina Garnier]

Unknown Location

Running a hand lightly through her auburn hair Katrina sighed as she waited for the bartender to bring her a bottle of whiskey. It had been a long day which was why she needed the whole bottle. Normally the empathy was one to advocate against the alcohol but tonight was a different story. She didn’t feel like talking about her feelings, she wanted to drink her cares away. Sometimes she was beginning to realize that the bottle was the way to go.

“Thank you,” she lightly smiled as the bottle was brought to her. Grabbing the bottle she took a swig as she glanced around the room. It was a depressing sight full of smugglers and the like waiting for a job or something. If not that they were just here to drink all of their cares away like her.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat leaned forward, sitting next to the woman at the bar. She was cute, and she was here to drink, just like he was. He ordered a beer, a dark ale that was thick in texture and heavy in taste and large in alcoholic content. He remained silent, for the most part, before he got his drink. Even though he was sitting next to her, he made no notification or any indication that he cared, until he got his beer. A small turn of his neck, as his armor ruffled, the Beskar plates rubbing together as he shifted in the seat. The shawl around his neck was adjusted with a single hand, before he spoke.

"Rough day?"He spoke in a calm, collected voice. But that was in a dark contrast to the actual man who held the voice, a savage, well trained killing machine who, unlike the woman, lacked a lot of empathy. He smiled, and it seemed genuine enough.

[member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Daral Tal'Verda]

Off in a desolate corner, cloth draped over the scorched armor plating, one CC-4242 sat staring at his drink blankly. He had burns, covered in bandages now, but everywhere no covered by armor had burned as he witnessed Druckenwell's glassing from far too close. The former Dread Guard soldier was lost and angry, oh so angy. How could they just kill those people? The question lingered in his mind as he took a sip of his Corellian whiskey, not breaking the stare into nothingness.

A force sensitive such as [member="Katrina Garnier"] would either completely miss him, or he'd stand out like a sore thumb. He was force dead. And he sure as hell preferred she ignored him. He'd shoot her if she tried something, he swore it. But then he head something, [member="Preliat Mantis"], showing up. He knew him, he'd fought Galaar in some bar on Mandalore. Galaar. Man was gone, just like Oddball and everyone else. Everyone was fething dead.

Again he sipped the alcohol, his blank expression contorting into one of anger, they'd made them do this. Made them kill each other. They were family, and they'd butchered each other. Fething poetic.

 

[Katrina Garnier]

She nodded solemnly in response as she took another sip of her drink. There had been a lot of death lately in the galaxy. The massacre that recently occurred had put her ability into overdrive and she was having a hard time coping. Normally she could handle it but so many souls all at once crying out in pain was a lot even for the master to handle. "A rough week really. I'm hoping that this will help," she grinned as she held up the bottle in her hand. If it was going to help she was going to need a lot more of it.

"What about you? Rough day?" She assumed similar seeing as he was here and all. Katrina noticed the Former dread guard member in the corner but only because she couldn't sense him. She decided however not to bother him for the moment.


[member="Preliat Mantis"]
[member="CC-4242 Daral"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat turned towards Katrina. He stared at her for a moment, before his hands found themselves around his beer. He lightly clinked with her beverage at the neck, before taking a sip, thinking about his reply. The Mandalorian was a brute, a brute in every sense of the word. He wasn't always like this, and the empath could feel the pity, the rage that had replaced the fear. Preliat was a prime example of what war did to young men, transform them from nice kids to savage, death-dealing soldiers. He turned towards Katrina, his brown eyes settling into hers. He spoke bluntly.


"Mandalorian's days are always rough and full of things to worry about. The past few months have been no exception. But I have a suspicion that you, may have had it worse than I have."He looked at her glass, then up to her."A distraction does eventually end, miss. Careful not to forget that."A tan finger touched her bottle.

He did not notice the dread guard soldier, thanks to his lack of force affinity and not looking behind him. If he had his helmet, his 360 vision might have let him see it. But he felt as though he just wanted a few days without it for now.

[member="CC-4242 Daral"]
[member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Katrina Garnier]

"It's never been this bad before. I used to have better control over my ability but now I'm kind of out of wack if that makes any sense." She paused to take another sip of her drink before she decided that she better explain what she was talking about. She was more than likely just confusing the poor guy more than he already was. "I'm an empath so I can feel others emotions as if they are my own. Normally I am good at drowned them out and only hearing what I want but lately there have been a lot of cries out in pain that I can't block out. They are no matter what I do still there. I don't use my gift normally as I feel that's almost an invasion of privacy. I'm Kat by the way. It's nice to meet you."

If he wished to tell her his tale of woe she was more than happy to listen. She had many people whom asked for her advice. Katrina was kind of good at giving. "What made these past months so bad?" Even though she had come here to drink alone it was rather nice to not be alone.

[member="Preliat Mantis"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

"Stress makes all joints weaker, that is why there are many joints on any machine."The Mandalorian said, repeating the proverb he heard when he was a hockey goon back in the day. He nodded his head, before smiling. The Epicanthix did not share this folley with force sensitives - they were immune to such nonsense. He leaned forward, folding his hands on the bar."My emotions are my own, I'm afraid. I am one of those rare types for people of your caliber and talent...and to some, your curse." He smiled at the name. Again, she could start to tell the true nature of the man, even without the armor and the weaponry.

"My name is Preliat Mantis. I am a Rally Master in the Mandalorians. I also am Ori'Ramikad."He was old-school-cool - he put his titles up front for all to bear witness to, to establish himself. He turned to face her, and again, spoke rather bluntly, but still softly. Quite a contrast given the statements."In the past few months we have laid waste to more than we have in years. We went from barely surviving to thriving. We have destroyed Dromund Kaas, we have brought the Sith to their knees. We watched as the Republic faltered and were so weak that they could not even hold their home planet. It was pathetic, in every sense. We watched as they squandered, and we watched as the Sith tried in vain to come and fight us. No - they have not succeeded."His tone changed, drastically."I have brought more death and destruction than any one Mandalorian should have - I am a savage now. I am made for war. And what else? What else is there to me, to Preliat? Is there anything more than a body pulling a trigger now? Swinging a sword? Is there a soul to this armor? I doubt myself. I doubt my humanity and my soul constantly. I feel hollow. I've killed so much, brought so much pain...that it's become routine."He blinks several times, before looking ahead.


"And I don't mind the routine anymore."

[member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Katrina Garnier]

As Katrina listened she took another swig from the bottle. It only muffled the voices but it would do for now. She would figure out how to better control her ability given the now most volatile galaxy. The Master shouldn't be surprised at the turn of the galaxy given what happened to her little village. It's destruction was what lead her back out to the "real world." She had been happy in peace had no problem fighting for what was right.

She had heard of Mandalorians from her readings. They were a type of people she could respect and to hear they brought the Sith to their knees made her happy. The Sith if nothing else were a pain in her side and someone had to take them down.

It was hard not to feel the pain he held inside and it touched her. Reaching out with the hand not on the bottle she lightly placed her hand on top of his even if it was just his armor. She saw more within him than a savage. The fact that he was struggling with himself showed that he wasn't one but she wouldn't neglect his feelings. "It doesn't have to be that way. There is more to life than war and killing. There is happiness, love, laughter. They all help easy the pain. The clan I know is your family but you don't have anybody waiting for you at home. Do you?"

She was getting the feeling that he didn't have anybody whom could help take the stress away away. People whom could help him forget if even for a little while. He looked like he could use a vacation, a break. "You should rest and try to enjoy life if even for just a day. You have give so much of yourself for others you deserve it. I could help you." She smiled as she finished off the bottle.

[member="Preliat Mantis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Kail gave a dirty, if slightly in-coherent, look to the Gran blocking his way to the bar. The fact that the Gran was simply stood in front of Kail made him feel like it was a road-block, never once thinking of simply stepping around the being having a quiet drink watching one of the holo-screens above.

"What....that's annoying!" He shouted, pushing past the man, causing a few disgruntled comments as his drink spilled slightly onto the floor.

Kail patted him on the shoulder as he walked past towards the bar, the effects of the ale he had been drinking taking it's effect. He only wanted to escape for a while, to let his hair down and amuse himself in his own company. It had been a long week, and he just wanted to forget it.

He grinned as a Twi'lek sauntered past him, lowering his head in a mock greeting as he watched her go by, a little chuckle escaping his boyish face, peppered with a days worth of stubble and a small cut on his forehead.

Moving to the bar, he came up behind an armoured man, a Mandalorian. Kail raised his eyebrows at the armour, recognising the style and look from such a warrior. Leaning onto the bar beside the man, engaging in conversation with a young lady, Kail patted the man nonchalantly on the shoulder, not really paying attention.

"Tough day my friend...a tough day had by all."

Resting on his elbow, Kail fingered the makeshift dark tan armour and survival gear he wore to find any credits on him for another drink.


[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat's eyes flickered over to the man who touched him, and obviously, he wasn't too happy about it. A glare, followed by a very unhappy tapping of his hand on the bar, signaled his displeasure at the man's demeanor. He turned to face [member="Katrina Garnier"] again, thinking about what she said. He leaned forward, taking a long swig of his beer. Sips was too light of a word, what he was doing was heavier. He needed the drink, the liquid courage, to continue with the conversation. One that he hadn't had- with anyone."I left my family. We haven't spoken since I was on Valen. As far as the Mandalorians go- I don't have any real friends. I have comrades, I have brothers in battle- but friendship? Is a foreign concept to me."He growled, looking over at the woman. He started to notice how pretty she was.


"Help me? A vacation, like all distractions, ends. And I am curious how you figure you are able to help me, if it all. And furthermore - I do not help people. I hurt people. I take life, and I take it in plentiful helpings. I do not have any joy in life. Only in battle and in war. And that's what scares me."



[member="Kail Ragnar"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Nodding to the plump barman standing with numerous limbs working away to serve and retain drinks and credits, Kail half-listened to the armoured man as he fished for a credit chip and spun it on the bar. Flicking the empty glass before him with his fingers, he winked to the barman and waved his free hand; he knew what to do. Fill him up!

"One more...my good man...or whatever you are. HEY! We're all friends, it doesn't matter. Good man."

Smiling, he leant on his elbows and looked over to the Mandalorian and the pretty woman he was talking to. He turned and leant his head over, beside the Mando and patted him once more on the shoulder.

"Miss. My lady. This here is a good man, a fighter. A warrior....a killer. BUT....it's his job, so don't worry."

Shaking the man gently, Kial chuckled.

"I know JUST what he means. Hhhh....helping people and killing people, what's the difference?"

He looked over and nodded to the barman topping up his drink. It called to him. Kial returned to the lady.

"Can I offer you a drink? My friend here's buying, aren't you?? I'll have an ale, good man."


[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Katrina Garnier]

She motioned for another bottle as they were joined by another. They had more in common than he realized. "I don't have many friends either. I'm closest to a pair of Akka dogs I keep but other than that nobody. I don't have family." Katrina had been taken from an orphanage as a child to live at the Jedi temple where she was trained nothing more. "I'm sure that's not true," she turned slightly to look up to him. "I doubt you hurt everyone you meet. Distractions while your right they do end but are nice." She sighed as she took a sip of her drink thinking.

"I bet you would enjoy one of those vacation things. It would be different than going off to war. I could show you the beauty of the galaxy. We could go anywhere." Kat knew suggesting going on vacation with someone that she just met was quite random. Her thought though was why not? It would be better than being depressed in a bar for both of them. It would help them both she figured. It was worth a shot at the very least.

"Oh I know," she grinned at Kail for a moment. "Warriors are great men and woman. I lived amongst them for some time and I'm not talking about the Jedi Order. I left them some time ago." She didn't consider herself a warrior really though they had thought of her as one. "Sure, why not if someone else is buying."


[member="Kail Ragnar"]
[member="Preliat Mantis"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Before the Mando had a chance to reply, or protest, Kail, pointed two fingers to both him and the girl, a look of surprise on his face.

"Oh! Hang on....you two are together...you're with HIM?"

Nodding, he shrugged and stood up, leaning back on the bar and teasing his drink between his fingers, droplets running down onto his skin from the lip of the glass.

"Shouldn't get mixed up with bad people. I'm bad, too. But...I don't mean to be. Sometimes."

He kicked back the warm drink, sending a chill up his spine as he swallowed, a gasp of air escaping his mouth.

"Jedi. You want to watch it with Jedi. Magical warriors....SEE, we're all mad warriors."

Kail turned back to the two and pointed a finger at the woman.

"YOU are the most....biggest, dangerous warrior of everyone. I KNOW you are. Jedi alwys are."


[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat shook with quiet rage as the man talked. Eventually, it all just became ringing in his ears. His lip began to sneer, and his mighty hands began to press into the bar. His crushgaunt adorned hands began to dip into the bar, to the dismay of the bartender. His ears became loud with ringing, as if his mind was beginning to focus solely on one thing. The man kept talking. Preliat, was a very fast, very deadly enemy. And when he moved, he moved with the deadly grace of a Mandalorian. In one fell swoop, he removed his Mandalorian Ripper, and pressed it to the man's face. He also went to grab him by the collar, and try and shove him against the bar.

"Speak once more, and lose the ability to continue living your pitiful existence, you drunken buffoon."

Preliat was holding back everything in his power to not pull the trigger, and he did not seem to notice how savage the act, how violent he had become, even in the presence of someone who wanted to help. He did not see past the violence, it was clear that maybe he was too far gone in his savagery, a far cry from the man that stepped into the Mandalorian armor many years ago. The Mandalorian lifestyle made him deadly, made him so savage and brutal. He was trembling, a clear indication to the drunkard that he had no intentions of letting him live. In fact, the only reason Preliat didn't attempt to kill him was the fact that Katrina was right there. Or, maybe, he had some amount of mercy in him. Depended on how someone looked at it, truthfully.


[member="Kail Ragnar"] [member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The drink may have impeded Kail's blunt approach, but it hadn't stopped his reaction to danger.

As the hulking Mando snapped, grabbing him and pushing him back to the bar with the bulky pistol to his head, Kail held his left hand up in faux surrender, offering a bewildered look.

"Hey pal...no need for THAT. There is a lady present after all...ok?"

He grimaced and rolled his eyes towards the lady looking on. And with his right hand he pushed his DH-23 Outback in between the plates of armour to the Mandos ribs.

"It may not kill you. It MAY not kill you. BUT you'd certainly feel it."

Kail's face fell serious and he stared into the warriors eyes, both losing themselves in their own hostility.

"Now back off."


[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Katrina Garnier"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Ribcage. He had a gun to his ribcage. But he didn't move. In fact, the gun remained on the man's head. Preliat leaned forward, grasping the cheaply-made pistol, and placing the barrel underneath his crushgaunt-adorned hands. He went to crush the barrel with his hand, thanks to the ionized Beskar metal.

"It probably wouldn't. But this would kill you."

Preliat was in no way inebriated, he would be much faster than the man if he continued his course of action of attempting violence with him(even though Preliat started it). Preliat stared at him a little while longer, before pulling back the Ripper up near his head. He didn't want to blow his brains out, not here. It wouldn't sit well with him killing a drunk with a gun that may have been broken.

[member="Kail Ragnar"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Kail Ragnar"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Katrina Garnier"]

This little one's not worth the effort. Come, let me get you something.

Where the line had come from, she couldn't say, but it was only by force of will that she bit it back. Sitting at the bar a couple of stools down from the incipient fight, she rotated her stool to free up her blaster, and rested her cane on the countertop. No harm in being prepared.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat's eyes flickered over towards [member="Ashin Varanin"], as his slugthrower found it's way into it's holster. Preliat walked away at that point, something he didn't for many fights or engagements. But something told him, that some other worldly instance would make sure that it wasn't exactly fruitful.


"Ashin Varanin. It is not every day you meet someone of your calibre in such a place as this."Preliat walked forward, ignoring the two behind him, for the time being. The drunk and the empath could wait- Ashin was someone he had longed to meet.

 

[Katrina Garnier]

He had snapped out of nowhere which caught Katrina by surprise. She at first didn't do anything in hopes that he would calm down on his own however it was soon found that would not be the case. The other man reacted in kind which didn't help things any but she couldn't blame him. She would probably attack back if someone attacked her. This had to stop though and as much as she disliked using her gifts she needed to calm Preliat down now.

Standing up a hand gently reached up to touch his shoulder as she tried to send calm energy towards him. Katrina had always been considered a calming presence so she hoped that this would work on him. She didn't want to see any blood spilled during this night at a bar. It seemed that Preliat needed more assistance than she originally thought.

"Stop please both of you."

She didn't want to have to use her more offensive powers but she would if she had to. It wasn't due to her but luckily the fighting stopped.

[member="Kail Ragnar"]
[member="Preliat Mantis"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Katrina Garnier"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Kail Ragnar"]

"I wouldn't recommend touching him, lady," said Ashin, alchemy-warped eyes never leaving Preliat's as Garnier put a hand on his shoulder from behind. She grinned faintly. "This one's a wolf."

With a grunt, she slipped off the stool and planted her cane on the cantina floor. Some Mandalorians remembered the three times she'd saved their homeworld; others remembered that for most of it she'd been the Empress of the Sith at the time. Ordo, for one, considered her a Mando, though she wasn't wearing her armor, a phrik equivalent of beskar'kandar. No, at any given time, there was no telling whether any given Mando would kill her or shake her hand. And if this one was who she thought he was, guessing was even more futile.