Just Another Day In The Life...

[Fidelis]

Two years. Two years traversing the Outer Rim. Two years since being abandoned by all he had ever known. Two long, grueling years all by his lonesome. And it was only now, on this dingy station in the middle of absolutely nowhere that Fidelis had found a bar that didn't serve Corellian ale. If he had not been so disappointed, he might have been impressed. But as it stood, there was little more in the galaxy he wanted more than a refreshing glass of a familiar Coronet specialty, and these backwater goons had no stock of it. How that was even possible was anybody's guess.

In fact, this backwater station had to be the single worst bar that the former Stormtrooper had ever been in. No Corellian ale. No cigs, thanks to some joker damaging the air recycling system. Meat that looked suspiciously like grown bacteria, if the Rodian in the corner's expression was anything to go by. And the pilot he had come here with had been badly hurt in one of the all-too-common scraps that took place in the main atrium of the station, meaning that until he healed up properly, Fidelis was stranded. The pilot would heal, of course; Fidelis made sure of that. But the injuries sustained were going to require more care than either he or this station could provide. But - just as his luck would have it - even the best Fidelis could do meant that the pilot was out of commission for at least another week, and if he felt like getting stingy then the medic was going to have to renegotiate his fare.

But hey, it was just another beautiful day in the Corps, right? Even if he was technically DoA, and that was about as good a separation as any trooper could ask for, Fidelis was still technically never separated from service. Which meant that, technically, he should have made every conceivable effort to return to his post. Which meant that, technically, he was deserting, and had been for the past two years. Which meant that, technically, he could be shot on sight if recognized. It was a fun life that Fidelis had led, wearing that target on his back every day for two years running. And if that wasn't cause to drink, then the man didn't know what was.

Another beautiful day in the Corps...

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova had been wandering for months though they had seemed like years, for she had barely had any communication with a living breathing person beyond that of the occasional holocall from her parents who still wanted her to act as if she were still a little girl though she was 25 years old; that is one of the reasons she had left home for it she was known for her independence, and especially when people tried to help her when she didn't need help from them.

She would find herself in need of fuel desperately as she sat in the cockpit of The Nightfall she felt at home with the flashing lights and noises that came with this type of ship for it was rather old so it had a knock here and a rattle there. As she brought the ship down onto this backwater planet she just hoped that they had fuel and liquor for her.

She would slowly drop the ramp and stride out all 4'7" of herself she would be gratified at the site of fuel and a bar. She would walk into the bar and walk straight up to the bar. The bartender would do a double take as she ordered whiskey and took a seat next to the most handsome man in the bar

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

Had he heard right? A whiskey? Here? Fidelis couldn't help but notice that he had asked for that very thing just over an hour ago only to be told that they didn't have it, and he was just about to grab the Duros barkeep by the neck and remind him of that very recent conversation when his eyes fell on the girl that had placed the order.

Bright red hair. Blue eyes. Freckled face. Knew what she wanted and how to get it, if the bartender's sudden restocking of whiskey was any indicator. She was the girl that would get an off-duty trooper in several worlds of trouble back in the galaxy proper. Size you up, get you hooked, then leave a year later with half your pay and a series of infections that would earn you a talking-to from your chain of command. It was to Fidelis's great joy, then, that the redheaded Human seemed to be taking no interest in him whatsoever. But it was also to Fidelis's great annoyance as well; if he didn't strike up a conversation, odds are the blue-skinned bastard behind the bar wouldn't get him any whiskey. Perhaps if he played his cards right, the bug-eyed git would suddenly restock with Corellian ale. Adapt and overcome, right?

"So," Fidelis said, loud enough to be heard, "you gonna be able to handle all that?"

[member="Nova Finley"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova would look over at the man as he said this, she would smile her single dimpled smile at him, it wasn't her fault that the bartender would give her anything she wanted. She looked at him and she was taken aback by his face, she would look him over. His features struck her fancy, she loved the way he looked and she knew how after a few drinks she would definitely be making a move on him.

She looked at the bottle in front of her and picked it up and passed it over "Go for it cutie" She said smiling at him

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

"Far be it from me to refuse a gift, ma'am."

Smiling and nodding, Fidelis took the bottle and reached behind the bar for a glass to match hers; if the bartender was going to be playing games, then he could obviously afford to, which meant he could probably afford to overlook one bottle of whiskey being commandeered by the Stormtrooper (and absolutely would if he knew what was good for him). Pouring a small amount of the liquor into the shot glass and making a point to ignore the dark smear at the bottom of it, Fidelis raised it up briefly.

"I'm Fidelis. And who am I drinking to?"

[member="Nova Finley"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova would smile, she didn't mind sharing the bottle with the man and the bartender thought her too cute to fight her over a bottle of liquor, she would think to herself what she was going to do. It looked like she was going to pull a normal Nova thing and just go with it. As soon as he had poured his drink and sat the bottle down she would speak

"The names Nova" She said her voice high pitched as always

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

"Nova," Fidelis repeated, savoring it like a fine drink. Finer than the whiskey, at any rate.

Making a point to grin at the bartender, Fidelis knocked the shot back, doing his best not to wince as whatever the dark smear at the bottom of his glass was followed the whiskey like the chaser shot from hell. But while it was no Corellian ale, it would serve the same purpose. His pilot could pick up the tab if the Duros wanted to make a point of it; it would make them even for the pilot jeopardizing them both by getting his head smashed in.

"And what brings Nova," Fidelis said again, acquainting himself with the name and the face it belonged to, "out all this way? This place isn't known for its hospitality."

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova would look at the man and once again get knocked off her feet at how beautiful he was, she gazed into his eyes and could not get over how beautiful they were. In unison with the man she would take her glass and knock the shot back loving how it burned on the way down. Whiskey was always her choice of drink, this wasn't the best she had ever had but it would do.

She would smile and answer "I needed to get away from life and I have been wandering for a while what about you?" she said pouring them both another shot

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

Well, damn if that wasn't a familiar tale.

Fidelis eyed the drink for a moment before setting it down, opting to let the burn and possible disease work its way down his throat before continuing. Looking back, perhaps his question wasn't the smartest; nobody came to his place by their own volition, let alone stayed here. Getting away from life seemed to be a surefire way to get into this dump. But if this little firecracker of a woman had a way to get here, odds are she had a way off. Not that he would take it, of course. As cute as she was, and as capable as she would have had to be to openly commandeer a bottle of whiskey from a bartender working at a bar with an amazingly bad aura, Fidelis had a prior arrangement with his pilot. And a Stormtrooper honored his agreements, even if he wasn't in action.

"Ship broke. Pilot got broke worse. And being that he's the only one that can fix it and I'm the only one on this scrap heap that can fix him? We're kind of a match made in heaven, he and I."

Hyperbolic, to be sure. The ship wasn't broken so much as in need of fuel, and would be ready to fly out as soon as the pilot himself was able to walk without dizzy spells. But the full truth never went far in places like this one, or with girls like this one.

[member="Nova Finley"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova would smile a little bit and giggle loudly and think of what the man had said, his verbal irony was something she loved, she was very well versed in sarcasm herself. She would think of her ship in all its glory, it was a very very fast ship in its own right, being a YT-1300 a model known mostly for its speed but also its armament.

She would then make a witty comment off the top of her head "I think you and I would be a better match if you want the truth"

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

"Is that so?"

Half-challenge and half-flirtation, the question was nevertheless an important one from Fidelis's perspective. That or he was simply overlooking a blatant come-on from a girl in a bar at the end of space. It had been a while since he'd had a decent conversation with anybody, and a long while at that. The former combatant was somewhat out of practice in that respect. And even if it was somehow more than that, there was still the critical matter that he had made a previous arrangement with his own pilot, which bound Fidelis to him until the arrangement was fulfilled.

But he was probably overthinking it. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Well then," Fidelis said, raising his glass again, "here's to the truth."

[member="Nova Finley"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova was loving this conversation, she would slowly raise her glass and echo what the man had said, she was shocked that it was going this well. Most guys she tried to flirt with would ask her if she was 14 even though she was 25 but she looked 14 apparently to those people. She would tip her glass back and savor the feeling of the burning liquor going down her throat.

As she finished she was feeling bold and would move a bit closer to the man

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

"Getting cozy?"

The Stormtrooper knocked back the second shot and set the glass down on the grimy metal bar, eyeing the small girl with equal parts curiosity and suspicion. If she got close enough, she'd feel the tightness of his dark clothes, as well as the small blaster tucked into his side. And if she felt that, she would absolutely feel something far less pleasant immediately afterward. There were only so many reasons to go for a man's weapon, after all. And while he couldn't blame her if she went that route - dingy bar, backwater world, angry clientele - Fidelis wasn't about to get blindsided. Another reason troopers got into trouble while on leave.

[member="Nova Finley"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova new that the man was nervous she was gonna go for his weapon because no man would ever go someplace like this without a weapon, she would reach to her thigh holster under her skirt and remove her blaster from her right thigh. She would remove it and set it between her legs, letting him know she didn't mean him any harm, what she wasn't revealing is that she had another one on her left thigh.

"Dont think I'm stupid Im not going for your gun cutie" She said getting even closer

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

"Well, of course not. That would just be rude."

While his voice was low and tempting, Fidelis was inwardly slapping his forehead. With his posture and his obvious nervousness, he was practically screaming at the bar that he had a weapon on him. Of course, nobody would actually try and make a move for it, as self-preservation was a big lure for the kind of people liable to stop here in the first place. But announcing her intention not to reach for his weapon was as foolish as it was perceptive; if anything, it made Fidelis even more suspicious than curious. Making matters worse was her openly setting a weapon within reach between her legs. Not subtle. Not smart. And absolutely not safe.

And as the old adage went, if someone had one gun, it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that there was another.

"Speaking of rudeness, I can't help but notice this little chat of ours is getting a bit one-sided. Where're you from? Going?"

Fidelis hoped that, if nothing else, the questions would catch her off guard somewhat. Nobody asked those kinds of questions in places like this.

[member="Nova Finley"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Nova was actually smart, she really liked the dude but he didn't seem to be into her at all so she decided she would pack up and head off "I don't know but apparently I'm not wanted here so I will leave you now" as she said this she would pick her gun up and slip it back into its holster grab her bottle or whiskey and start towards the door

[member="Fidelis"]

 

[Fidelis]

Fidelis made a motion to stop her, stopping just short of actually grasping for her. The conversation had been nice, even if something about it seemed a little...off? Weird? Kindness in itself was something of a foreign concept to the soldier, but he was willing to take it where he found it. Had he been projecting? Giving off a less-than-welcome disposition? It wasn't beyond possibility, given the life he'd had. Soldier to a cause he believed in, for a government he would have died for, only to find loyalty went one way and the last two years were spent going another way altogether. But if she wanted to leave, more power to her, Fidelis reasoned; the less time spent here, the better.

Although this presented a new problem. Without her, there was no whiskey. Without her, there was a Duros with a higher bar tab, and a surefire lack of Corellian ale. Grimacing to himself and his complete lack of game, Fidelis reached for the few credit chips he had to his name and began to count them.

Another glorious day in the Corps...

 

[Zye Woden]

There was really only one weakness in Zye's armor that he knew of, and even that he didn't consider much of a weakness. Some men took for women, some men took for spice, but for Zye, the only vice of choice he had was alcohol. Stations like this were the best to refuel, drink his fill, and catch leads for upcoming jobs. He was in between hunts, and for Zye that meant there was only one place he would be.

His boots crossed the floor of this tiny, grubby bar, caked with the mud of a thousand planets. With every step the sword and blaster strapped on either side of Zye's belt spoke of his combative history and training. As he crossed the threshold, Zye's gaze swept over the few inhabitants of this bar. There was a glum man at the bar. Zye had seen the look of regret often enough to know what it looked like on sight. No small part of that was his keen status as regretting so much. But more than Zye, guessing by his slumped shoulders and weak spine, the noble made the easy guess that this man was quite used to that state. He was at the end of his rope. There was ginger who looked like she was starting towards the door too with booze and it looked like she was placing her gun back in her holster. If that was the case, then this fellow might have more fire in his belly than he looked like he had. Maybe he wasn't as pathetic as he looked.

Zye took his place at the bar next to the man at the bar. He made a great show of reaching in his belt and flicking a credit chip to the bartender.

"Give me whatever swill you possess here that is both highly alcoholic and tasteful," Zye instructed, his noble bearing coming clear in his wording and tone.

The bartender gave him a sour look and slammed a bottle before the man with a glass. The Duros made it clear he didn't like Zye, but the money was good. Zye didn't even bother with the glass, but instead he grabbed the bottle by the neck and took a pull from it. His gaze lowered to the man who was counting his meager credits in his palm like a dying man counts his last days.

"Are you intent to do something about that?" Zye asked, although his voice was haughty it implied there was really only one answer, "Or are you intent to spend your last coin and die a pauper tonight?"

[member="Fidelis"] I [member="Nova Finley"]​

 

[Fidelis]

Fidelis barely had time to register the bottle being slammed down when he took notice of the newcomer. Sword on one side. Blaster on the other. Air of importance about him, but if he was so above it all as he was making himself sound, what in all of hell was he doing here?

"I'm just looking to pay the man, sir."

The former soldier wasn't looking for a fight. And even if he was, Fidelis knew better than to try right here, right now. He had a raging headache thanks to the hangover and the all too recent conversation ending. His blaster, while small and easily accessible, wasn't nearly as ready as the new guy was. And anybody brave or crazy enough to carry a sword in a world of blasters wasn't to be trifled with. And none of this held a light to the more obvious problem that if he started a fight on the one place in this forsaken place that had a tenuous truce, then he might not live long enough to get back to the ship and take off, likely blowing up both himself and his pilot in the process. No, all Fidelis wanted was to pay the Duros and be on his way.

"Unless you think you can cover the cost."

[member="Zye Woden"]

 

[Zye Woden]

"Oh, please," Zye said like the man had just suggested he dedicate on the most sacred of all things sacred. "I'd sooner speak Huttese out my ass than cover another man's drinking expenses."

Zye had a strict policy. The policy involved drinking as much as he could, paying for all he drank, and not leaving much of a question between the two. He came to drink until he could forget the horrors of being forced from Thule, and the horrific treatment of House Woden for their years of service. He came to drown his sorrows in the sweet abyss of alcohol. He gripped the bottle and took another drink of its sweet nectar from the glass container.

"If you are that desperate to resort to begging, you might as well drink what you can tonight and jump off the nearest building," Zye was being harsh, even for himself. But he was never that way without a reason. If the stranger couldn't feel a but coming, then he would certainly be blind sided by the coming statement. "But if you are intent about doing something concerning your financial situation, I could consider giving you an advance in exchange for your services."

It was there for the man to decide. If he wanted to be better, Zye was his ticket out of the hole he was in. If he did, then Zye would have a bait to use for his next hunt. If this fellow lived, and he very well might, then he would find he was able to do more than he thought he could and Zye would carry his family name onward with helping the downtrodden. If he died, at least he was spared a slow death. If he refused--well, then he wasn't Zye's problem.

[member="Fidelis"]​