[member="Lara Zambrano"] & [member="Dianna LaCroix"]
The abandoned apartment they called home was situated right on the end of a large urban embankment. It was run down and grimy. Holes adorned the walls, the furniture was half eaten away by some unknown parasite, and the air smelled of stale mildew. Not to mention the plumbing only worked some of the time. But it was home all the same. It was their abode; a place they could rest their heads at night and feel relatively safe in.
As Gabriel awoke he could hear the embers still burning from inside their R5-series astromech droid. They had found it on the street with most of its parts stolen or salvaged. Although it had no computer system to speak of, Gabriel figured it could still be used and so decided to bring it back to the flat. Since then they had been using it as a makeshift fire pit to keep them warm during the frigid nights on Nar Shaddaa. It was especially convenient considering their dwelling lacked efficient insulation. Lara actually grew fond of the little thing, going so far as to name it “Sparky” after the wiring that was left loose on it. Sometimes when she wasn’t aware, Gabriel would catch her conversing with the inanimate object. He would often jestingly reproach her, telling her to “stop speaking to the Battle Droid like that.”
“Surprise!” He heard as his crusty eyes began to pry open. Gabriel squinted. He was trying to take the whole image in before him, but it was proving particularly problematic. He was trying to allow as little light into his irises as possible and his face took on a peculiar expression because of it. “Greetings, stranger. Breakfast for me?” He croaked out. His voice was grainy and thick. A smile played thinly on his lips, though. The gesture was not lost on him despite his sleepy lack of clarity. Gabriel took a Shuura from the tray of food and clamped his canine teeth through the mushy substance. His teeth tore through it easily. His teeth were designed for tough sinewy meat after all. Juice trickled down his chin and he gave a warm smile. He offered one of the other Shuura fruits to Lara before he set the tray down on the ground next to him.
Gabriel stood up in bed and he suddenly became very austere. He held his paw out to Lara and helped her slide onto the bed beside him. “I’ve been thinking,” He said with as soft a voice as he could muster. “We need to get off this worthless rock.” He paused momentarily to let the meaning of his words be absorbed and then he continued, “After what happened yesterday I’ve realized it’s too dangerous for you here.”
"But how can we do that?” Lara piped up, “We have nothing but our dreams to take us around the galaxy."
“Well… how does everyone else travel? They get ships. We’ll just have to get a ship. Dreams aren’t everything, you know.”
“How can we get a ship? We’re poor, remember?” She asked.
Gabriel blinked a few times as lucidity began to fully return to him. He scratched at the fur beneath his throat and then said, “I haven’t forgotten. I overheard an exchange between some gang members the other day. They mentioned one of the members of the Hutt Cartel. Apparently he’s looking for some men for an assignment. In exchange he’d be willing to provide them with a ship.”
“Are you serious? I’m not working for some kriffin’ slug.”
“It’s our only chance,” He pleaded.
“Yeah… to wind up dead,” She repeated gloomily.
Gabriel breathed through his nostrils silently. He was in a good mood today. He was going to stay in a good mood. “You almost died yesterday. I won’t let that happen again. Just trust me, Lara.”
She was silent. She folded her arms in front of her and pouted with her thin, pretty lips. Lara was always stubborn. She wanted to get off this rock just as much as Gabriel did. But at the same time, she had grown used to it. She actually relished in the thrill of their adventures. It could be a way of life for them, just her and Gabriel toughing it out on the streets of Nar Shaddaa.
“Think about it, Lara. Isn’t there somewhere you’d wanna go?” He asked her almost breathlessly. Gabriel thought he knew the answer, but Lara stood silent. It seemed her mind was brewing. She rubbed her chin in the most eccentric manner; in the way young children often try to act more sophisticated than they actually are. Then suddenly she got to her feet and bolted. A few moments later she came running back into the room with a book in her hands. Her breathing was hasty and shallow as she placed the paperback pamphlet, the cover reading “Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy,” on the floor in between her and Gabriel. She thumbed through the leaves swiftly until she came upon the page she wanted. Then she pointed with her plump, little thumb down at the picture. Gabriel glanced at the page that now read, “Coruscant Ice Crypts.”
And so our heroes’ fates were decided. A change was coming… as change always does.
[Thread Finished.]
The abandoned apartment they called home was situated right on the end of a large urban embankment. It was run down and grimy. Holes adorned the walls, the furniture was half eaten away by some unknown parasite, and the air smelled of stale mildew. Not to mention the plumbing only worked some of the time. But it was home all the same. It was their abode; a place they could rest their heads at night and feel relatively safe in.
As Gabriel awoke he could hear the embers still burning from inside their R5-series astromech droid. They had found it on the street with most of its parts stolen or salvaged. Although it had no computer system to speak of, Gabriel figured it could still be used and so decided to bring it back to the flat. Since then they had been using it as a makeshift fire pit to keep them warm during the frigid nights on Nar Shaddaa. It was especially convenient considering their dwelling lacked efficient insulation. Lara actually grew fond of the little thing, going so far as to name it “Sparky” after the wiring that was left loose on it. Sometimes when she wasn’t aware, Gabriel would catch her conversing with the inanimate object. He would often jestingly reproach her, telling her to “stop speaking to the Battle Droid like that.”
“Surprise!” He heard as his crusty eyes began to pry open. Gabriel squinted. He was trying to take the whole image in before him, but it was proving particularly problematic. He was trying to allow as little light into his irises as possible and his face took on a peculiar expression because of it. “Greetings, stranger. Breakfast for me?” He croaked out. His voice was grainy and thick. A smile played thinly on his lips, though. The gesture was not lost on him despite his sleepy lack of clarity. Gabriel took a Shuura from the tray of food and clamped his canine teeth through the mushy substance. His teeth tore through it easily. His teeth were designed for tough sinewy meat after all. Juice trickled down his chin and he gave a warm smile. He offered one of the other Shuura fruits to Lara before he set the tray down on the ground next to him.
Gabriel stood up in bed and he suddenly became very austere. He held his paw out to Lara and helped her slide onto the bed beside him. “I’ve been thinking,” He said with as soft a voice as he could muster. “We need to get off this worthless rock.” He paused momentarily to let the meaning of his words be absorbed and then he continued, “After what happened yesterday I’ve realized it’s too dangerous for you here.”
"But how can we do that?” Lara piped up, “We have nothing but our dreams to take us around the galaxy."
“Well… how does everyone else travel? They get ships. We’ll just have to get a ship. Dreams aren’t everything, you know.”
“How can we get a ship? We’re poor, remember?” She asked.
Gabriel blinked a few times as lucidity began to fully return to him. He scratched at the fur beneath his throat and then said, “I haven’t forgotten. I overheard an exchange between some gang members the other day. They mentioned one of the members of the Hutt Cartel. Apparently he’s looking for some men for an assignment. In exchange he’d be willing to provide them with a ship.”
“Are you serious? I’m not working for some kriffin’ slug.”
“It’s our only chance,” He pleaded.
“Yeah… to wind up dead,” She repeated gloomily.
Gabriel breathed through his nostrils silently. He was in a good mood today. He was going to stay in a good mood. “You almost died yesterday. I won’t let that happen again. Just trust me, Lara.”
She was silent. She folded her arms in front of her and pouted with her thin, pretty lips. Lara was always stubborn. She wanted to get off this rock just as much as Gabriel did. But at the same time, she had grown used to it. She actually relished in the thrill of their adventures. It could be a way of life for them, just her and Gabriel toughing it out on the streets of Nar Shaddaa.
“Think about it, Lara. Isn’t there somewhere you’d wanna go?” He asked her almost breathlessly. Gabriel thought he knew the answer, but Lara stood silent. It seemed her mind was brewing. She rubbed her chin in the most eccentric manner; in the way young children often try to act more sophisticated than they actually are. Then suddenly she got to her feet and bolted. A few moments later she came running back into the room with a book in her hands. Her breathing was hasty and shallow as she placed the paperback pamphlet, the cover reading “Twenty Wonders of the Galaxy,” on the floor in between her and Gabriel. She thumbed through the leaves swiftly until she came upon the page she wanted. Then she pointed with her plump, little thumb down at the picture. Gabriel glanced at the page that now read, “Coruscant Ice Crypts.”
And so our heroes’ fates were decided. A change was coming… as change always does.
[Thread Finished.]