Simpler Times | Krystal

[Darth Metus]

Location: The Sprawl, Golbah City​

Tag: [member="Krystal Estain"]​

The aroma brought back memories.

It was funny how certain smells could trigger the fondest of thoughts. Without so much as thinking, one's entire frame of mind could be upended just because someone decided to whip together something delicious. Scents had the capacity to instill feelings of home and safety, even when there were none to be found. In this instance, an off-duty Knight Obsidian found solace within a rather unassuming shop. He, unlike many of his peers, had an affinity for the more rough and rundown places in the Galaxy - for that was the environment which had cultivated him. Josiah Denko was a native of Nar Shaddaa after all: the literal armpit of the Galaxy by some estimates. Therefore, it was not out of character for him to be right at home where the lowest of the low decided to call home.

In particular, Josiah found himself located inside a diamond in the rough. Recent wars had displaced quite a few people throughout the stars - and the Confederacy was more than happy to rehome them all. One lucky couple were given just enough assistance that they were able to restart their bakery on the Confederate capital. There was a region within Golbah City known as the Sprawl which was an ever-growing, ever-expanding mass of buildings. It was here, where the rougher characters tended the thrive, where the couple decided to lay down their roots. By Josiah's estimation, it was due to the fact that, even though they had some aid, they weren't going to be able to build a mansion overnight. Therefore, they had to get what they could afford. Frankly, the place wasn't on his radar until one evening, during one of his walks, he heard a break in…

It was the thief's unlucky day that a Knight Obsidian just so happened to be walking by. And after his arm was damn near broken off, the couple decided to thank Josiah the only way they knew how: a fresh cup of caf and a plate of their best puffcakes. The smell of those delicious pastries took the Knight back to when he was a literal child - for those were the desserts his departed mother used to make. Those times were much simpler. Much kinder. And though Nar Shaddaa - and the Sprawl for that matter - were rough...the puffcakes made the Knight feel right at home. Today, he sat at his usual table in the far corner of the room. A steaming cup of caf resided on his left, a plate of puffcakes on his right, and his datapad laid upon the table in the middle.

It was just after noon now. The lunch rush was due to get started at any time. Josiah always chose this time to take his lunch - as that was when the rowdiest customers decided to show up. But they wouldn't be giving this sweet pair a hard time, not while he had a damn thing to say about it.

 

[Krystal]

Coffee.

Krystal wasn’t dependant on many things. Too often had she been let down or disappointed by something -- or someone -- she had thought she couldn’t live without. She was, however, reliant on one thing, and she desperately needed a cup right now.

She had heard there was no shortage of marks in the area. Arriving in Nar Shaddaa the morning before, Krystal spent the morning scouting out the Sprawl for herself and familiarizing herself with the landscape. She took a short nap and prepared herself for a long night of potentially little action, all the while remarking on all the things that could go wrong. Krystal wasn’t sure which she’d have preferred. Though appearing unarmed aside from the Verpine Shatter pistol she had holstered at her side, she had her usual knives concealed in her boots and further material in the small bag she carried. She left her ship and began to make her way to the apartment building she had scouted that morning.
Krystal was bored out of her mind. Stakeouts had never been her thing -- she much preferred the action and danger that came with more high profile hunting. To her credit, she stayed alert the entire night and watched both entrances to the building, but either her information was flawed or someone had caught on to her presence. She stayed on lookout all morning, but as the sun rose over the city it became clear she wasn’t going to get anything else out of this.
Frustrated and tired, Krystal went to make the trek through the Sprawl back to her ship. Why couldn’t criminals ever set up their evil lair outside a nice restaurant? Hell, she’d kill for a cup of coffee right now. This part of the city, though, was probably too rough for her to have any sort of confidence that she wouldn’t be poisoned. She had given up on finding a cafe when she realized she had no idea where she was. It was admittedly an easily remedied issue, but annoying nonetheless. As she pulled up a map on her HUD, she passed by a sidestreet and was hit with the sudden aroma of… fresh bread. Abandoning her route, Krystal slipped down the street until she came across the bakery where the smell was coming from.

Perhaps it wasn’t going to be such an awful day after all. Ordering her usual cup of caf, she looked around for a place to sit. It was pretty busy at this hour -- looked like most people were here for lunch -- and there wasn’t much as far as open tablespace. Most of the tables were occupied by loud groups, none of whom she particularly wanted to interact with. She noticed a quiet table farthest from the door, with just one occupant. In fact, it almost looked like the other patrons were allowing him his space. But there was an extra chair at his table, Krystal was armed, and nothing bad ever happened over a cup of caf. After, sure, but nonetheless she walked over to the man and pulled out the chair across from him.

“Mind if I sit?”

----
[member="Josiah"] o.o

 

[Josiah Denko]

Location: The Sprawl, Golbah City​

Tag: [member="Krystal Estain"]​

Above the noise. Above the commotion. Josiah listened.

As the aroma of caf invaded his nostrils, the Jedi lulled his eyes to a close for the briefest of moments. His fingers found and gripped the cup which held the glorious beverage and raised it to his lips, splashing a river of the liquid down his throat. There were few things in the Galaxy which accompanied puffcakes as wonderfully as a fresh cup of caf - and certainly Josiah would not have it any other way. But, indulging in his lunch aside, the man hearkened to more than just the hustle and bustle that quickly began to dominate the cafe. He listened for that same elusive presence which announced itself time and time again. It was the invisible hand which directed and guided the flow of all things. The living presence which empowered and enacted change in the Galaxy.

Josiah, as always, listened for the Force.

After all, it was this enigmatic entity which had opened the heavens and gifted him a student in the form of [member="Zoe Rosella"]. It was this presence which guided him to Coruscant all those many years ago to study at the feet of Grandmasters. And, ultimately, it was responsible for bringing the Jedi to the southern systems. Thus, he always had a metaphorical ear to the ground when it came to the Force...for when it spoke, he wanted to be fully attentive. He did not expect anything ground-shattering in the form of revelations to come today; but...when did he ever? The Force spoke when it wanted. Directed as it wanted. And Josiah was always always caught off guard. In fact, that was exactly how he felt when the whisper graced the fringes of his awareness. Light demanded that he lower his mug and pay attention.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Thus, he obeyed and set the vessel back upon the table. His guard immediately raised, for his interpretation of this "missive" was something was soon to go awry. However, not even two minutes later, he soon found that his initial thoughts were horribly mistaken. Rather than some unforeseen assailant, the sable-skinned warrior was greeted to the sight of a young woman. She greeted him kindly and asked if she could join him at the table. She would soon find a warm smile looking back at her and a hand motioning for her to join him at the table. "Absolutely, have a seat." he began. He then indicated the puffcakes before her. "They're fresh, help yourself."

"I'm Josiah. What's your name?"

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake
Tag: [member="Josiah"] , [member="Krystal Estain"]
Ugh..
She had found herself being dragged along to a restaurant by Josiah, she had no clue as to why she was there or what he wanted to do there. She, however, decided to take full advantage of the bar as she sat down on one of the stools and ordered some Alderaanian tea which, to her surprise, was rather expensive. She was in eyeshot of Josiah and the woman who approached him to take a seat, grinning she turned to the bartender and ordered a small glass of Corellian whiskey to go along with her tea, seeing as she couldn't see herself leaving any time soon..

-------------
(I hope you don't mind me putting this image here as a visual, I do love visuals ^-^)

Spoiler

 

[Krystal]

Krystal smiled as she took her seat opposite the man and his friend. Puffcakes! She absolutely adored the sweet treats, so it was just her luck to run into someone who was willing to share his. Having taken one, she chewed for a moment and swallowed before she answered his question. "Krystal. I'm Krystal Estain -- and thank you so much for sharing!"

She took a sip of her warm cup of caf and looked over at the woman sitting next to Josiah. Krystal pressed her lips together when she noticed the woman was drinking a Corellian Whiskey -- at this hour, that was honestly a mood. "Whiskey and tea? Interesting combination you've got there. Rough morning?"

The Force was trying to tell her something -- perhaps about the man sitting across from her, perhaps something entirely unrelated -- but for the life of her Krystal could not figure out what it was. She'd always felt the Force as a reassuring comfort around her but never could learn anything further about it. For a moment she wondered what she could accomplish if she were more in touch, but banished the thought from her head. Blasters and military grade impact grenades would do just as well as fancy lightsabers or mind control.

"Rough area -- what brings you fine folk to the sprawl?"

----

[member="Josiah"] , [member="Zoe Rosella"]

 

[Josiah Denko]

He could feel the impatience roiling off of the woman in waves.

It was almost funny to the Jedi, for his Apprentice had quite a bit to learn in that regard. Overall the Alderaanian was a stellar pupil. She adapted to the curveballs he threw her way quite expertly and was always hungry to learn more. To do more. She reminded him so much of himself at that age that it was astounding. For now, when the woman seated herself at the adjacent table, he simply offered her a warm smile. His hand indicated the plate of puffcakes, offering the treat to her if she wanted to partake as well.

In time, they were joined by [member="Krystal Estain"], who happily accepted Josiah's offer of the aforementioned confection. Her personality seemed to be as light as the morning sun, for she seemed very...personable from the moment she devoured the treat. She was happy to introduce herself and straightaway went into making conversation with the Master and his Apprentice. But there was something about her. Something that had made the Force see fit that he pay attention to her entrance.

"Interesting is one way to put it." came Josiah's quip at the comment of his pupil's choice in beverage. This marked the first time she had ever consumed alcohol in front of him - not for virtue of course. But rather, their training locales did not have liquor stocked. Perhaps he should pick her up a case of something on the way back? No matter. When it came to the question of what they were doing in the Sprawl, Josiah simply motioned all around them. "Best Puffcakes short of Nar Shaddaa admittedly! I come through every day on lunch if I'm on Geonosis. Today, my Apprentice was kind enough to join me."

He chuckled. "How's about yourself? What brings you all the way to the Sprawl?"

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake
Tag: [member="Josiah"] | [member="Krystal Estain"]

She nodded in silence towards both Josiah and Krystal as they commented on her choice of beverage, as she went to pick up a puffcake she listened to both of them, keeping herself busy with drink and food to try and avoid conversation wherever possible. It had been a while since she last had any forms of alcohol and she wanted to savour the moment, it was difficult to resist as it sat behind the bar asking to be bought.. specially when it was her favourite type of whiskey, Corellian. Josiah shortly produced a quip at her attendance which she responded with a sarcastic smile as she quickly went back to hiding behind her glass.

 

[Krystal]

Krystal laughed and ran a hand through her messy hair. She had been up all night but didn't look it -- coffee and residual adrenaline did wonders.

So this girl was his apprentice? That could also explain the Force around her -- if he was mentoring her in the Force his own signature must be pretty strong. She grabbed another puffcake and took a bite as she considered. It's true that this wasn't her usual end of the galaxy, but these days what was? "I guess I'm here for the same reason I'd be anywhere else -- just trying to get by. Wherever the Force wants me, that's where I am." She laughed softly at herself. "I'm not some crazy fanatic, I swear! It's just nice to have a sense of direction sometimes." She tucked an errant strand of hair back behind her ear as she spoke. Direction had been evading her for quite a while now, as much as she'd like to pretend otherwise. Turning to the brown haired woman sitting beside them, she noted, "I don't think I caught your name, by the way."

She settled back in her chair and took another sip of her caf. "To be honest, I'm not from around here and I don't have anywhere urgent to be, so I'm happy to stay here a little longer. Next round of puffcakes is on me!" she laughed.

[member="Josiah"] [member="Zoe Rosella"]