First Reply Octotillo

[Jonath Kago]

HUTT SPACE
JILRUA​

He bit into the tuna while sitting down at a local vendor with shade protecting him from the Jilruan sun. Fish was one of many foods that helped with memory loss and brain function, something he researched on the Net and desperately needed. Nuts, berries, and vegetables too. He was hoping for a magical pill to remember why he came to pummeling Talsin Lota and why he felt so much conflict within. It didn’t work out immediately as he’d hope to, but he still had hope with this diet he prescribed himself to.

He needed the space away from his friends…well, maybe just singular if Talin didn’t drop him after what he did. Tansu couldn’t forgive him, he was sure about that. Jon still remembered the way she looked at him and couldn’t shake off that image. The rest of the gang he was still acquainting himself with, so it would be inappropriate to lean on them for moral support.

"You are not just a murderer, you are scum. You don't deserve friends like these"

He reflected heavily on those words ever since leaving Atrisia. Scum like him in this part of Hutt Space; a society of thieves and killers doing the bidding of their criminal overlords. That didn't feel right, how could he be like one of these people? Hell, this was still a breeding pen to train and indoctrinate souls to serve the criminal syndicates. So much so there were arenas meant to pit adolescents against each other, a disgusting aspect of Jilruan culture since war and violence was deeply rooted into their customs. Not just the natives, but others that migrated to this planet partook in these events whether voluntarily or against their own will. Jon shouldn't give a damn how these people lived their lives, anyone not looking for trouble would do so.

But he couldn't ignore it. Deep down he wanted to correct his wrongful deeds; not just Talsin or what happened in The Drop, but it rooted far beyond that and it remained unknown to him. This was just a way to rid some of that guilt buried deep inside him. Finishing his meal, he stood up and walked to one of the local gladiator pits with purpose behind his footsteps.

 

[Morrow]

Black fabric rustled in the dust-laden breeze. The tattered hem of Morrow's cloak fluttered a shadow off to one side. Hood up, only the bottom half of his face was visible, umbra obscuring the upper hemisphere. He leaned against a wall, watching the spaces between the contrary currents of pedestrians. Then, as expected, there was Jon following the flow into the pit. Morrow had been trailing him since before he'd sat down for street food. He'd reasoned this as the next destination, but remained ready to move should he have been incorrect.

Morrow's boot surreptitiously peeked out from his cloak just as Jon would begin to pass by him, heel resting against the duracrete. Shin met ankle, sending Jon to the floor. Morrow moved, grabbing Jon's arm in a faux-helpful fashion and assisting him in regaining his footing. A tug would guide Jon several steps away from the sidewalk, finally assisting his balance once the two of them were flanked by alley walls on either side.

"Gotta be more careful than that, Jon," Morrow remarked, face still concealed. His tone leaned on the border of sardonic.

_____________________________________________________

Jonath Kago​

 

[Jonath Kago]

He was too focused the boot caught him by surprise. He was fast enough to not fall on his face, instead falling on his side and rolling over to not make a total fool out of himself. Picking himself up before grabbed by the arm and dragged to an alley. A state of confusion that urged him to fight back this unknown variable. Had he not been released perhaps he would have.

“What the hell?!” how else should he had talked or rather shouted. A bit of glare in his eyes to see through this stranger. Until he talked, he quite remembered that voice and it calmed his aggression.

“Morrow?” like a guess to see if he was right or wrong. He didn’t wait to see if he was. It was a bit joyful to see a familiar face, though his face didn’t show it. He was still annoyed from being dragged to this alley. “Well, what the hell are you doing here?” what was he doing in one of the Galaxy’s corners of crime and lawlessness.

“Me, careful? Don’t you have a bounty on you?” bounty posters and advertisements were common to see at every corner of Hutt Space. The fact that Talin had one did concern him as well as Tansu.

Morrow​

 

[Morrow]

Shrugging, Morrow emanated a vague, unconcerned noise. There had been a price on his head one way or another since he'd left Dantooine. He'd learned to live with it. A few had tried to take him in, and they'd all learned why no one had already. It was a big galaxy, and everyone was hard to find. Around here, he'd gained some leniency through Mauve, though it was far from a rescission. Razmir was still pissed. Thus, his shoulder was still very much worth looking over from time to time.

"Talin told me about Atrisia," he stated bluntly, shifting the subject dimly back to what he was doing here. "Sort of. I didn't get it all through the crying."

Crying: a small detail that seemed innocuous to mention. Morrow's intention was veiled, but very pointed in reality. She came to me, not you.

"From what I gathered, you left Talsin in pretty rough shape, huh?"

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Jonath Kago
Honorables: Razmir Tezhyn | Mauve du Vain | Talin Treicolt​

 

[Jonath Kago]

So he knew, he knew how fractured this little group of theirs was after what happened on Atrisia. He was ashamed of what he did to the Tetan, he truly was. The Duke was annoying, yes, but he didn’t have wish any ill will to him. It caused the rift between sisters and affected his own relationships.

“Uhh, yeah, it was…well, it’s really fething bad the whole thing. I don’t know how to fix this mess.”

His focus was now on Talin. He had yet to hear anything from her, but from what he understood she needed a safe space to let out whatever emotions she was reeling from. Jon couldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to know anything about him. She stood by his side, and lost her sister. Maybe she also thought how insane he was for acting out so violent.

“How is she, by the way? ‘Lin, I mean. She defended me from the whole thing, pretty much the only one who understands me. I’ve been thinking about reaching out, but not sure if it’s a good idea.”

Morrow​

 

[Morrow]

Again, Morrow shrugged.

"Why should you?" he questioned. Both Jon's remorse and desire to fix what had happened were targeted with singular scrutiny. "It sounds to me like he got what he deserved."

Gloved hands rose to flip the hood from Morrow's head. Dusky locks lurched to one side with a dry breeze that found its way down the alley. They reobscured his face, blue eyes flickering in and out of view behind them. Then came an eerie suggestion: "Or maybe not enough?" Dark eyebrows raised blithely with the insinuation.

"Talin is..." Morrow appeared to be in thought for a moment. "...she's handling it. You know how she is."

Did he? Morrow scarcely knew sometimes.

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Jonath Kago
Honorables: Talsin Lota | Talin Treicolt​

 

[Jonath Kago]

He was taken aback by his words, his eyes frowning in confusion. How fractured was this gang of ragtag individuals? Was there previous grievances between Talsin and Morrow? Why else would he say these words? Jon looked down to his right hand, the memory of Talsin’s blood was still fresh and how much it terrified him how and why he was driven to that point.

He had to be better than this. To try to make himself feel right and absolved.

“Morrow,” looking back at the hoodless scoundrel. “Do you even know what you’re saying?” He allowed a second or two of silence, before continuing as if to make Morrow self reflect on his words. “It really hurt all of us, man. With what happened, especially the girls. Tan was full of grief and anger…and ‘Lin, she looked at me trying to say something but she was just lost for words with whatever pain she’s reeling from.”

she's handling it. You know how she is.

He knew bits and pieces of Talin, but this was new for her as much as to the rest of the gang. She was hurting and the solution was more than likely handles of whiskey to cope.

Morrow​

 

[Morrow]

"I know exactly what I'm saying," Morrow replied sharply. "Talsin isn't the type to learn his lesson and leave it alone." Somehow, he just knew it. He could picture Talsin on the ground, bleeding from the head, still stubbornly taking his stand.

Any hope there might have been for reflection likely stopped hard against Morrow's grim expression as if it were a durasteel wall. Indifference to Joanth's plea projected plainly, framed by black tresses. It was clear just how serious he was.

"He's already driven a wedge between Talin and Tansu. Not to mention you and the two of them. Who's next?"

There was a pause, blue eyes driving his point in with a glare.

"...And what will you do when he tries to take your freedom away again? Surrender?" Morrow seemed almost offended, disgusted even, that he was forced to ask.

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Jonath Kago​

 

[Jonath Kago]

He wished he was joking, but soon realized there was serious intent behind his words. Even if he was joking it was disturbing to think that way after something so unfortunate happened.

“What the fuck is in your head,” glaring back at Morrow, his tone was a bit more serious than before. It was ironic to question him on his mentality when Jon had his own problems. “Sure, why not. I’m sure beating Talsin to a damn pulp is gonna fix shit and everything will go back to normal, yeah?” harsh sarcasm in his voice while speaking louder and louder. Had he killed or severely injured the Tetan just how Tansu would cope with everything? It would ruin her. Jon already hurt her when he lashed out on Talsin.

And Talin…

‘Lin

“Where’s Talin?” she was not safe with people like Morrow. It would only drag her into a hole without hopes to escape from.

Morrow​

 

[Morrow]

"I thought you'd have more sense," Morrow contended. "He won't stop until he puts you away. What do you think comes next? He comes after me? Talin?" His eyes narrowed. "Talsin isn't compatible with your normal."

Jon's question about Talin's whereabouts further increased nascent tension. It hung thick in the air between them. Morrow's heart began to beat a little faster, anticipating this blowing up in his face.

He gestured vaguely to Jon's pocket, implicating a commlink or other device as he replied: "Ask her yourself." Though he knew she wasn't likely to answer. "But if she wanted you to know, you would," he continued, a hint of smugness leaking into his tone. He couldn't help himself.

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Jonath Kago​

 

[Jonath Kago]

Who was he talking to? How did Morrow managed to end up in their lives? It felt like talking to a rock as Morrow continued on this…this rhetoric of killing Talsin. His words did start to wear Jon, anger at the fact he would suggest violence that would affect people he cared about. Not Talsin, no, but it would indirectly make an impact on the twins. And what did he mean should the duke go after Morrow or Talin? Admittedly should that come to happen, he wouldn’t hesitate to use a direct, physical approach.

But now he digressed from that theme and only focused on Talin’s whereabouts. Knowing where she was was the first step in knowing she was safe or not, and Jon didn’t trust that with a scoundrel like Morrow. Especially with how smug he was in his voice.

A fist curled up, and his eyes staring intently through underworlder. Part of him recognized him as a threat and it ignited that killer instinct buried deep inside of him. Jon started to see red and wanted to deck him.

“And right now I’m asking you, Morrow,” almost as if threatening the scoundrel. “Last chance: where is she?”

Morrow​

 

[Morrow]

Jon's anger swiftly became palpable. Unconsciously and instinctively, Morrow fed on it. A supernatural surge of power surged through him, fueled by negative emotions, external and internal. Suddenly, it was as if Morrow could see inside Jon's mind. Very briefly, he could sense his intentions, his fears, his wants. It was the Dark Side at work, though an oblivious Morrow would chalk it up to having a read on Jon.

If he couldn't be convinced that Talsin was a problem, so be it. That man Morrow had seen at the Drop was nowhere to be found. Now he seemed more concerned with Talin than his own freedom. Morrow had at least been right about that aspect of his character. It was yet another reason Morrow couldn't leave it be. He could pull back on the Talsin angle, figure out another way to deal with it, but Talin was a hard line. Jon couldn't be allowed to weasel his way between them.

An evil smirk crept across his face, telegraphing a dark impulse. Morrow's possessive inclination over the Treicolt twin shifted his gaslighting demeanor into a goading, confrontational attitude instead.

"You sound worried," Morrow mocked, tone taking on venom. "Worried that she's... been fond of my cabin lately?" he continued knowingly. His implication was clear. Jon was now the first to know, outside of the On The Mauve's crew.

"Not that it's any of your business. Maybe that's why she didn't tell you anything?" he added, contempt sharpening his words.

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Jonath Kago ​

 

[Jonath Kago]

It was the smug grin that edged him to losing control. A look that Morrow knew what he had done and was doing. There weren’t words to describe it only that it gave him a bad feeling about it. Then came the words, a tone as if mocking Jon and parading Talin’s name.

It was the straw which broke the camel’s back.

Anger got the best of him from that place of hate and violence, though he still had some control over his consciousness. Unlike the time when he brutally attacked Talsin when he lost all consciousness.

And like Talsin, Jon threw a fast, powerful punch to the scoundrel with intent to maim him.

Morrow​