Pacing Through The Past. (Lady Kay and Zerium)

[Zerium Esther]

[member="Lady Kay"]

Zerium was wandering down a street. Minding his own business and doing his best to remain peaceful. After all he was a mostly peace keeping individual. Though living on Nar Shadaa sometimes peace keeping, was a long shot. Not on Zerium was afraid to face. Though one sometimes a strategic recalculation might come in handy. Unfortunately patience and taking time to think didn't come naturally to Zerium. He was a quick thinker and mover. Though he thought about things every once in awhile. Right now Zerium was troubled about some things. Which was slightly upsetting. Though only slightly as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Zerium eventually headed to a market. So, he could spend time listening to the people argue. At which point he'd occasionally stop by and intervene. Make sure little violence occurred that day, and well. He could always pick up a item or two. Even if it wasn't exactly by the most moral of manners. He had to live to, and though he didn't enjoy stealing. His skills had come in rather handy for the task. So, Zerium began to walk around and scan the area. Searching for anything that might prove of use to him. He needed a distraction from the thoughts of his old caretaker. Though he hoped an opportunity might arise where he could lay these thoughts to rest for good.

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]

Nar Shadaa. It was not entirely smart for her to be there, yet here she was. Kay covered most of her face with a broadcloth, leaving only her eyes. She was dressed like merchant, tunic, pants, soft boots, and of course her satchel. Concentrating somewhat as she walked, she shrunk down her Force signature to that of a tree nut.

It wasn't long that she was in the market, passing by the various booths that she spotted Zerium. He looked both in and out of place at the same time. And that was....rather odd. Was he a pickpocket then? Kay decided to watch and see as she pretended to look over some scarves.

 

[Zerium Esther]

Zerium was in turn scanning around with his eyes. Constantly trying to figure what would be the best target. He viewed things as taking an object, more then taking from a person. Besides most of the people here were a criminal of some sort. Even if it was simply a single act they felt was justifiable. Sort of like Zeriun's thieving habits so he could survive in life. As stated he hated doing it though it kept him alive. As well as it was much better then getting lost in the past.

Zeriun finally found the item he wanted. The problem currently being that it was in the hands of a merchant. Who was currently doing his best to trade the watch. It wasn't a horribly expensive item. Though Zerium was sure he'd be able to get a meal or two off of it. Perhaps if he was lucky enough he'd pick up a few more items. Zerium made some calculations on the fly and decided to act. He didnt like violence and no one hurt. So that made his plan a little more difficult. He reached out with the force as he began to approach the man. Then proceeded to knock down the booth behind the guy. Forcing the man and majority of spectators to turn there attention to the sound. Then with the force Zerium picked the watch from the man's hand while replacing it with a watch from the owner's booth. When the watch reached Zerium's hand he flicked it up the sleeze of his robe and vanished into the crowd.

Zerium's actions had been so quick and fluid that even a trained eye who had focused on him. Would of seen a blur and struggle to put the pieces together. It wasn't impossible to do, though it was difficult. As Zerium sighed in relief and headed through the crowd. Entering an Alleyway and finding a place where he could relax. He leaned back against a building and began to examine the watch. Nodding his head and sighing some more.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]

Well that was certainly odd, yet not unexpected for a pickpocket. Hmm. He seemed to be Force sensitive as well. After the commotion had happened and Zerium headed off into the alleyway, Kay soon followed. As she approached him while he leaned against the wall, she kept her hands held to her sides to show that they were bare of any weapons of the sort. "Nice little show there. But such things are bound to get noticed, even when you think that you've caused a good enough distraction." Just like now.

Kay figured that either two things would happen. One being that he would high tail it and run. And the second being that he would face her either in anger, confusion or fear. Of course there were other ways too, but these were the two that immediately came to mind.

 

[Zerium Esther]

Zerium blinked as he heard a voice speak to him. Acknowledging his previous endeavors as he glanced to the woman. At first he was thinking dash away. Which he even flinched a bit to prove it. However upon seeing the woman he closed his eyes and relaxed. "I'm sure there's something we all could get caught doing, which we should not have done." He finally replied in a smooth tone. He glanced to the pocket watch and examined it for a moment. Before he spun it around a few times. "Are you expecting anything?" He asked her and tilted his head. He wasn't going to make an enemy out of this woman. Though he wasn't about to jump to conclusions and simply hand the watch back to the owner. Unless it came about he had no other option.

Zerium's top goal was to keep alive. His second goal was keep others alive. Then his third goal was to try and keep peace, while achieving the prior two tasks. He felt this lady wasn't about to jump to resorting to violence. As she could of easily caught him off guard and struck. Therefore she had to of been here either for a personal matter. Either that or to convince him to return his next meal ticket.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]

Little bit cocky. That was normal for both young men and for pickpockets. She folded her arms across her chest now as she continued to watch him. "I am expecting that you'll do nothing but run. Yet what I'd like you to do is tell me why you are abusing your gifts for the sake of stealing." Tiny bit of a guilt trip. She could lay it on a bit thicker if she had wanted to. But instead she chose better of it.

 

[Zerium Esther]

"Obviously if you wanted to draw attention to my act. You would of done so by now. So I have no reason but to run." He replied in a quick snap back fashion. It was done defensively too however as he glanced to the side. "This is how I survive." He answered her question finally. Most everything didn't take him long to respond to. He checked the streets and spotted some men. "Hmm...". He said calmly as he eventually relaxed back against the wall and closed his eyes once more. Waiting for further questions or criticism from this lady. Whichever she wished to try and guilt him with. He was a peace keeper and generally kind.

"I apologize if I seem rude, and uncivilized." He finally stated as he opened his eyes. Beginning to pace as he thought about the past again. Which clearly began to agitate him. As Zerium wandered where his former caretaker's items were stored. One item in particular that might open new windows for him. Zerium didn't want to spend his life stealing. Though options were limited when you were still technically a juvenile in a criminal world with no parental figure.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]


Rude and uncivilized. No it was more so that he was acting in the way that a street kid would. But this one had Force ability. It was surprising that he hadn't been snatched up by either the Jedi or the Sith. But then again lots of people hide out here.

"I think it'd be best if you returned what you stole. If it's a meal or something that you're after, then you can share with me. That way no one would be out of pocket for it."

 

[Zerium Esther]

Zerium listened to her words as he glanced towards the pocket watch. He finally nodded his head. Though didn't verbally reply. It'd definitely set part of his conscious at ease. As he hid the watch up his sleeve. "I'll be back." He said to her in a quiet tone. Before he walked out of the alley and towards the crowd. Blending back into it as he walked back to the man he took the watch from.

When he came up to the guy he set it down beside the man. "My Apologies" was all he stated. As he quickly reabsorbed back into the crowd. Wanting to avoid the wrath or the merchant. Having a kind lady on your case about stealing, stirred up enough guilt about the incident. Which left Zerium unsure about what he was going to do after the offered meal. Probably get lost again in the past.

He returned to the alley. Where he looked hoping the merchant was still there. He was going off the hopes she was an honest lady. Which was rare to find on a criminally controlled world. He glanced back and noticed the men he'd spotted earlier were slowly heading towards the alley. Which was a little more unnerving to Zerium. As he wandered the men's intentions or if he'd been caught by more then just the lady.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]

She watched him as he left the alley, only to disappear. Whether he had given back the watch or not, she couldn't tell. But she had hoped so. When he had returned to the alley, Kay was still there, waiting for him. The other men wandering their way was a small cause for concern. But she pretended not to notice them. Instead she walked over to Zerium and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, let's go get some lunch. We wouldn't find any here."

She led him through the alley and over to the other side of the market, where some of the food stalls were. The smells were enough to make your mouth water. Hopefully their shadows would cease to follow.

 

[Zerium Esther]

Zerium slightly flinched the moment she first touched him. He wasn't used to being touched. As he lived life in a world where few could be trusted. Let alone be offered beyond stranger proximity. However though he considered being skeptical. He decided not to be as thus far this lady had proven she meant him no harm. So nervously he followed along with her. As he smelled food he sighed in relief. As though he didn't look back to check if they were followed. He allowed the sounds and his instincts inform him if the men had taken persuit.

For awhile it felt that was the case. The sense that him and this strange woman who was eager to keep her identity hidden. Was still being followed by people. However as they neared the food market. It was proven that the pursuers decided against continuing their watch. He wouldn't let his guard down. Though he was glad of that, as he was hungry and didn't want his and his aquaintance's food to be disturbed.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]

She could feel his nervousness with how close she was. But it was all just a show for those that could be following them. After purchasing a couple of meals of meat and rice, she led him over to a corner of one of the smaller eating tents. Everyone sat on mats upon the floor, and so she did as well, keeping her back to the others inside, while facing Zerium. She then lowered the part of her headscarf that covered her face and began to eat a bit while she spoke. "So tell me a bit about yourself....Were you born here?"

 

[Zerium Esther]

"Um, yes..." he replied and nodded his head. "I was born here." he said to her in honest reply. As he shifted a little bit. Trying to find a posture on the mat which he felt comfortable with. He was fascinated by the woman's desire not to draw attention to herself. Which caused him to tilt his head as a simple sign of curiosity. Before he straightened up and glanced towards the food before him. As he patiently waited to eat. He wasn't quite sure if he had the right to start eating, or if it was more proper to wait until he was given the right to begin eating. He'd never been offered a meal before by a stranger. So this was all something of a new experience for him.

"I had a caretaker at one time who was force sensitive, he taught me the basics. He died when I was twelve however and therefore left me broke. I made use of what I could of his. Though he held many secrets and some of his items weren't within easy access." he said to her calmly. As he stared at the food practically now. His eyes a little bit dilated and his stomach growling. As he shifted uneasily a second time. Still patiently awaiting permission to begin eating the meal.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]

She furrowed her brows while he had just stared at the food. It was obvious that he was hungry. His stomach said as much. Instead he spoke of a caretaker. Well that was an odd way of putting it. Perhaps he was an uncle or something to the boy.

Kay gestured towards the food. "You can go ahead and eat. There's no reason to wait on me." She took a piece of meat and ate it thoughtfully. "So you have a home, then?"

 

[Zerium Esther]

"No, I have shelter. Though I don't consider it a home. I couldn't remain at my caretaker's residency otherwise people would of questioned who I was being watched by. Although I'm sure it might of been better for me in the long run. I have too much personal matters at stake to have let them relocate me." He responded to her as he began to quietly eat his elected meal. He glanced up and scanned the area before returning his focus to the food. "I would like to continue my training. However I am unsure if I want to actively participate in a war." He said and sighed some. "Besides I also have an item my previous caretaker entrusted to me, though he said I'd find it when the time was right, and the area in which he'd learned the truth." He concluded.

He smiled some after awhile and relaxed back. Looking around now at all the events. This part of the market wasn't the most exciting. Though it had its occasional spill of interesting events. That's when Zerium noticed something. He quietly pointed to an Alleyway. Where another figure was now standing. Who'd belonged to the group of men fro.m earlier that night. However the man now seemed to be acting as a look out. "I think there's something going on in that alley." He stated in an uneasy tone of voice.
[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Zerium Esther"]


"Just because you're trained, it doesn't mean that you have to participate in wars. " Kay herself had participated in so few, and mostly her involvement had been in taking care of the wounded. Her husband was very strict on that.

She started eating some of the rice, pretending not to notice what it was that Zerium was mentioning about. "Just remain calm and pretend not to care. If you act alarmed, then that could set them off. Let's test their patience a bit, shall we?"

 

[Zerium Esther]

He sighed and glanced down. He'd lived off the streets many years So he was used to the concept of avoiding attention. Though when something of a unusual proportion was occurring. Then he struggled to not let curiosity get the best of him. He glanced towards the woman who generously granted him a meal as a trade for returning stolen merchandise. Before he relaxed back and noticed another set of men sweeping through the market. Though he was careful to not act like he was suspicious. Instead he thought of questions that he could ask. To merely converse and act as natural as possible.

Eventually a question hit his mind. "Might I ask how you spotted me, and why you are trying to avade drawing attention?" He asked her in a tone and volume that barely came across as a whisper. His slight of hand was not perfect, as very few things were. Though it was a rather developed skill from the years he utilized it for survival. As a result it only made him fascinated by her. So he was using curiousity of her, to counter the curiousity of the group sweeping the market, and the group in the Alleyway.

[member="Lady Kay"]

(Merry Christmas my friend and happy holidays ^~^)

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay kept her voice low too, but not as low as [member="Zerium Esther"] did. "You looked a little out of place and with that large distraction that you caused behind you, well, that type of misdirection is the same kind of thing that many thieves and politicians use."

She continued to eat, waiting a bit before answering him. "Quite simple as to why I don't want to attract attention...I could get into trouble if some knew that I was here." That and someone could try to cash in on her bounties. It was easy to assume that she didn't want that to happen.