Solo Rave!

[Kyyrk]

Voph chuckled at the girl's words. "Begging the question, would you have remembered the scar, or the blindfold?" He stepped aside, and turned towards the bar, leading the way through the crowd."I'll not bore you with the excruciating detail, but rest assured it is not your face I would find familiar." It was...odd. Even though he spoke in a somewhat soft tone, he was still perfectly audible in spite of the ambient noise around him. Perhaps some trick of his voice? Or more likely a clever use of the Force. She corrected him on her preferred name. Not exactly the "Prim and proper" type she appeared to be. Voph smiled to himself as they neared the bar. "As you say, Prenn. You, in turn, may simply call me Voph."

He paused near the bar waiting for her to take her seat, before he sat down next to her. "Hmph. Asking the world of me there. Many an option there. If you're in the mood for something light, I'd suggest something from Naboo." He took the menu she offered him and set it down on the bar without looking at it. He'd never needed such a thing in a bar like this. "An ale, perhaps." He glanced at the bartender as he said this, and placed a credit chit on the bar, and slid it towards the tender. "And a Tarisian Ale, if you've got one." He turned his gaze back to Prenn, and smiled again. "An expensive drink, but one of the best if you've something to forget. Though I'd not recommend it if you're sensitive to the effects of alcohol. Or care for the state of your liver." He cleared his throat, almost appearing to be looking behind Prenn at something, before focusing his attention back to her. "The Naboo, on the other hand, are rather fond of the soft and delicate side of life. Rather enjoyed the short time I spent there..."

[member="Prennis Keeoli"]

 

[Prennis Keeoli]

"Both," was her reply. "I have a bantha's memory." It made her a good student and better practitioner. Certainly, it didn't hurt her bedside manner either.

She chuckled again, trying to backpedal a little from her own insinuation. Losing her posh Coruscanti accent had been relatively easy, but altering her vocabulary and natural speaking patterns? She was going to be working on that for a long time yet. Nowadays, when she spoke, she barely recognized herself auditorily.

Though, that was probably a good thing. If she could convince herself she wasn't Aes'ona, she'd be able to convince others. Hopefully.

Once at the bar, hearing Voph's drink selections, she nodded. The latter--something from Naboo is was. The doctor had been a near-teetotal in the Order. Even now, also, going into nursing, Prennis had a difficult time forgetting the less desirable effects of alcohol consumption, namely on the liver, but she had had some success thus far.

No harm in a social drink every now and then, right, when paired with proper exercise and nutrition?

"I am a bit sensitive," she admitted before turning to the bartender. "Something from Naboo."

"A rosé?" the man suggested. "It's like blossom wine, if you've ever had it." The comparison was obviously lost on the student, but she still anyway. It sounded good, at the very least. "The vineyard just uses more common flowers for distilling. It's just as fragrant, I promise."

Prenn nodded. "I'll have that, please." "Comin' right up, ma'am." With that, he moved down the bar to fulfill her order, leaving Prenn to turn on her stool towards Voph. "Mmhm. I've heard, but I've never been."

~ † ~​

[member="Voph"]​

 

[Kyyrk]

Voph snorted audibly. Bantha's memory? He shook his head, a wide smile on his face. "I'm sorry, but clearly you've never dealt with a bantha..." Voph chuckled quietly to himself for a moment. They were...not exactly the smartest animals. Nor did they have the best memory. He always laughed at the saying when it came up. "Now..." He paused, composing himself and gesturing with his right arm as he spoke, "Akk Hounds, on the other hand, excellent memories. But I may be biased." Voph spoke with a soft Huttese accent, though there were slight inflections here and there suggesting it was not his native accent. Hints of something more...prim and proper filtered through. Something...Imperial. Not recognizable as common among either the First Order or the Sith Empire, though.

"Used to have one back in the day. Great companions. Was a shame that I spent so much time traveling." He smiled at Prenn, pausing as she ordered her drink. He nodded as she confirmed having never been to Naboo. "Just don't go during their winter. As with many planets, it's not...AS pleasant. Still better than some, though." Voph paused to thank the bartender as he delivered their drinks, and took a careful sip of his. "So, tell me Miss Prenn, what gets you by in this wide galaxy?" His head tilted to one side. "Quite a...studious air about you. Archivist?"

[member="Prennis Keeoli"]

 

[Kelsie Sylvan]

Kelsie was... interested, to say the least. A troubled dark sider with thoughts of other possibilities... perhaps she could sway him. But then again, it'd probably ruin her night, too. She couldn't have that, she'd just gotten back.

"I can do anything and everything," she said casually, once more reaching for her glass of Corellian Whiskey and taking a small sip. "But I'm not in the market for a job just yet, I have a bit of an adjustment period. And frankly, I'm not too sure if interests are things I'd like." She paused, holding her drink and swirling it around a little. "Can't say I'm not interested, but... well, I guess I'm not. I'm Kelsie by the way," she said, expecting him to give her his name as well.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

I turned slightly and brought my charcoal hand around to offer a hand shake. I wouldn't be surprised if she refused to shake it. People weren't to keen on gripping a hand that was as good as soft coal.

"Just yet? So, you do something"

I offered a slight grin. I had no immediate plans, but she didn't seem like the type to go headlong into a fight and then receive payment. No, it was something more.. covert. Subtle.

Orex Mauda. Business Man and Darksider. Although I'm sure you've already taken note of that."

I didn't know enough to gauge whether she could be a useful ally. I knew there was something there. A history somewhat hidden. I could hear that whisper in my ears whenever assessing someone, it was mostly unintelligent but sometimes certain words broke through. Military. Empire. Regardless I didn't know enough.

[member="Kelsie Sylvan"]

 

[Kelsie Sylvan]

And Kelsie wasn't exactly there to let [member="Orex Mauda"] know enough. Having a good drink was first, a good time was next, and everything else was just filler. She nodded as she listened, once more bringing her glass to her lips and tipping it back to empty it. She set it back down after, waving over the bartender for a refill before looking back at Orex. She raised an eyebrow, then took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "Cool, Orex," she said simply to start.

"Again, I'm not one to be running around for some Dark Jedi padawan or something. Not really my style. You don't seem like too bad a guy, of course, which is why all I can tell you is to take yourself off your current course. Even the wounded and broken shouldn't endure more pain," she said sagely. With her drink refilled, she raised her glass to that, looking up at the ceiling as if toasting some god or long-dead friend. She knew they were watching, might as well honour them.

 

[Zeke Tune]

Zeke chuckled, as he leaned against the bar. “True. New experiences, and changes of pace are necessary. If you just do the same thing over and over, eventually, it stops being as inspirational. At least, I find this to be the case.” The man's attention was solely on Loreena, oblivious to the rest of the galaxy as he chatted with the younger woman. She was a beautiful girl to be sure, but...honestly, he just wanted company for a bit. He had no ulterior motives in mind. He wasn't looking for a model for his art, he wasn't looking to bed anyone. But to talk, to enjoy the night? That sounded like a wonderful use of time.

The man smiled a little. “Honestly, I much prefer softer music, in a caf or tea shop some where, soft chair, idle chit chat with old acquaintances. Or a good novel in my hands. Perhaps seeking out fun bits and bobbles that catch my attention in an antique store. Or skiing down some mountain slope. But...” Zeke gave her a skewed grin. “If I had stayed there, I wouldn't have met you, now would I? And honestly, that seems like it would have been a waste of a night.” Fingers drummed on the counter top a bit.

"So, tell me about yourself? Or should I start?" Unless someone approached them, Zeke had no intention of expanding his world at the moment. Everything he was, focused on the girl. It was simple as that. He took a drink from his whiskey, and placed a fist under his chin, as he stood there, thoughtful eyes on her.

[member="Loreena Arenais"]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Lori caught sight of [member="Arekk"] as he passed by. She gave him a little wave. At one point he was joining her crew. That is until she revealed that their first mission was to help liberate her planet. The man had his reasons for not wanting to jump into battle, and she didn't hate him for it. Her respect for him was still there. Why he was here now, she could only guess. But at least he'd watch out for her.

[member="Zeke Tune"] caught her attention again as he began to speak. She nodded in agreement with some of his favourite pastimes. But not all of them were to her tastes. Maybe she just wasn't old enough yet.

She had a sip of her drink, almost as though she was using the glass to hide behind as Zeke seemed glad to have met her. People didn't tend to compliment her in that way. So she wasn't quite sure of how to react.

"Me?" No one had asked her to talk about herself before. Lori wasn't entirely sure of just how much she should reveal. Not all of it, that was for sure. You tell someone that you're royalty and then they just treat you differently than they would if you were normal. "Well I'm a Captain of my own ship and crew. I like tinkering with things and figuring them out.
Doing so helped me to make my own jetpack. While you like to go through antique stores for bits and bobbles, I look for new switches, toggles and things for my own little devices. I get a lot of quiet time, so tinkering helps me think. And when I want a rush, I fly my training fighter through the Twin Canyons, or through the Eldritch Mountains. I've learned some great maneuvers that can take your breath away."

Lori was quite aware that he was being very attentive. It was the strangest thing to her. People didn't tend to hang on her every word by any means. So she diverted his attention to himself. "What about you? Where are you from?"

 

[Mauda]

I could endure the Monologues of Light in an environment like this, otherwise, they would have hit a nerve.

"Pain is a necessary sacrifice for exploiting a great power to its fullest extent. It's a spectrum, and everything changes across that spectrum. I'm sure you enjoy a sense of harmony and peace, whereas I endure the opposite."

I sipped slowly and relaxed my posture

"Some of us exercise to get the most out of our bodies, and that's a pain we are willing to endure for a greater reward. Apply that principle to the Force and it will be much more evident that we are the same, just with a different methodology."

I was mindful of the fact that she was not at a club to discuss philosophies. But I was never the entertaining type.

"Hope I'm not boring you with my opinions"

[member="Kelsie Sylvan"]

 

[Kelsie Sylvan]

Kelsie was only half listening to Orex by then, more focused on the amber liquid in her glass than his words. Perhaps she was being a little stubborn, but she really was hoping to just socialize with some more... normal, people tonight. She glanced at him after taking another sip of her drink, still wondering what her mentor would do in this situation. She sighed and shook her head. "Look Orex, you're a little too set and stereotypical about all this... no, I don't agree with the teachings of the dark side, but are they valid? Of course. Pain is a good motivator."

"I'm an emotional person. I've probably gone through as much pain as you have, probably caused much more, too. But I keep my beliefs. Perhaps I can't convince you they're better, but I've chosen my path, so I at least have to mention it." Once more she raised her glass to her lips and had a sip, her gaze sliding away from it and onto the people nearby. Even without her active sensing she noticed other Force sensitives... and she wondered if they'd notice her. If they came to talk to her just about the Force, she rather hoped not.

"Just keep an open mind," she said softly.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Mauda]

Why was I in a club? Don't know. Was I cut out for such an environment? Not at all. I nodded my head in acknowledgement, stopped and thought. Of course I shouldn't necessarily be here. I had much more important things to be attending to and indulgence in social pleasures was not going to have me achieve them. But I suppose It would be nice to revel in community before my endeavours wrench me from the surface of society.

I turned my head for the last time,

"Ever seen a Swoop race?"

[member="Kelsie Sylvan"]

 

[Zeke Tune]

Zeke leaned forward and still hung on her every word. [member="Loreena Arenais"] was a lovely and interesting creature, and he could focus very well when something interested him. “Oh?” He gave her a grin that could charm the fur off a wookiee. “See, I'm a good pilot myself. I would happily take that bet. Though, I admit, the idea of you taking my breath away, is quite interesting as well.” His fingers drummed on the counter top. “You have a lot of wonderful hobbies. I always wanted to get more into tinkering. I can make some things, but I never honestly had the time to learn as much as I wanted.”

As she turned the talk back towards him, he gave a soft smile. “Originally? Coruscant. You know how that went. I have been on Melida/Daan. I run an art gallery and an orphanage there. Honestly, most of my life is spent painting, or traveling to different places. But, in my free time I rescue slave children, using various means, and I raise them in the orphanage. My art simply pays for their lively hoods. You know?” Fingers continued to drum on the counter. “Honestly, since you mentioned having a ship, I'm actually looking to hire one, to get me to my next interview in a few days. But, frankly, at the moment, I admit....” The man actually looked a bit bashful as he said this next part. “I'm having far too much fun here, talking to you to worry about that a the moment.”

Zeke leaned back on the stool a bit, as he sat up, and watched her. She had the most vibrant eyes he had seen in a long time. Innocent, naive, but....so full of life. He allowed himself to get lost in them. And for the first time in a long time, he wanted to paint a picture. But one that was made while he looked into them. No pain, no violence involved, just look at them. Maybe he would try hiring her as a model sometime. “When you are done, just order another drink, on me. Also, what type of ship do you captain?” He hoped, if he talked about her ship, he could get her to open up more.

 

[Kelsie Sylvan]

Kelsie raised an eyebrow at Orex, not even looking at her glass as she raised it to her lips once more. After a small sip, she spoke. "Once. I found it boring knowing that I could drive faster and better than most of the racers." She put her glass down once more and shifted into her seat. Didn't really matter if she was still intrigued, with the way her connection to the Force has been acting lately she wasn't keen on walking around alone with a dark-sider. She didn't trust anyone, especially since she was unarmed. Maybe she should've brought something along, though that too would likely ruin her night. A little sigh escaped her lips as she once more took her drink. There was always booze to soften the blow.

[member="Orex Mauda"]

 

[Jayce Pryde]

As the euphoria of the narcotics kick in Jayce rises from his booth with his bottle of liquor in hand and makes his way out to the dance floor. As the beat of the song picked up he took a chug from his bottle and began swaying with the music.

His hips sway and his knees bend as he drops low and then bounces back up as he rocks and swings to the furious beat.

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

It was weird to have [member="Zeke Tune"] so...attentive of her. Not weird in a bad way. It's just that she had never encountered it before. It was almost as if he was starting to--no, that couldn't be it.

Lori grinned a little to herself as he seemed interested of her taking him on a flight through the canyons. Her dead drop maneuver was sure to freak him out as it had her brother and other sorry victims of her thrill seeking adventures. Something told her that it might not scare him though.

And then he began to answer her questions. She had another sip of her drink, leaning against the bar as she listened. He was an artist? Lori hadn't met one before. She'd have to look him up on the holonet later to see if there was any artwork of his to be found.

"You rescue slaves too?
I've done a bit of that. My mom's done more than me though. Or at least she did it a lot when she was younger and used to be a Senator. I've just done a few rescue missions so far." She planned on doing more at some point. When her training allowed and when she had enough money to do so.

Did Zeke just seem...bashful? Lori nearly did a double-take, but then she found herself caught in his gaze. Hopefully this wasn't some trick of the alcohol or some set up done by one of the not-so-good patrons of Kwenn Station. The last thing that she needed, the last thing that her self esteem needed, was to be a victim of some cruel prank. That possibility remained in the back of her mind as she responded to hus questions. "It's an old Mantis-class freighter. Top of the line though and less than a year old.
I call her Jaster's Sparrow. She's named after my Guardian that died in battle over Commenor when the Sith lay siege to it. I wanted to honour his sacrifice. I thought that that was a good way. And in this way, even in death, he still protects me and we still go on missions together." She lifted up her glass in a salute to Jaster and had a sip. It was a funny little custom that she was taught by her Mandalorian mentors. One always drinks for the dead.

 

[Zeke Tune]

His attention didn't waver. No one had hung around him, or was around now, as if there was some great joke. When she spoke about freeing slaves as well, those deep piercing eyes went wide. “Really? You did too? That is amazing.” The man's voice was full of passion, and pride as he spoke. “My mother was philanthropist, she helped many of Coruscant's poor. When my family died, I was left alone. But I had a fortune. And my art work sold well, so it was always growing. I used it to buy slaves from a world in hutt space. Especially the children.” His voice sounded broken for a moment, so full of emotion, like it was a real and visceral experience to him. “No child should ever be made a slave, Lori. They shouldn't.” While his face and emotions didn't change, his mind ran through his life as a slave, of the brutal gladiatorial combat he had to do as a child. “In time, I found...other ways to set them free. I opened up the Orphanage and that was that.”

His lips pursed together, as he continued to look into her eyes, almost mesmerized by them. Yes, he truly needed to paint this. Later...later, he wanted to hear her talk more first. “Ahhh, a Mantis. Good ship, solid, sturdy. Useful. I would love to see it. And....Ahh. The Jaster's Sparrow.” When she raised her glass he did too, and drunk along side of her, as if used to it. “I'm sorry for your loss. I would do anything if it could undo it. But, I am sure he would be proud of you. We can't bring back the lost, but we can keep living, as best as we can. Doing good, protecting, and just enjoying life.”

The man looked around, and spotted an open booth, which would be a bit more private. He pointed his thumb over to it. “Want to get some refills and head over there? A lot less distracting than here. I mean, I could get lost in your eyes all day, but, I do admit, I would rather not have to shout as loud to talk to you. You have a lovely voice, I want to actually hear it, you know?”

Every word he said, every action he took, showed he was being honest, and that he reacted in the most appropriate way. As if the woman before him was someone who had caught his attention, as if he wanted to get to know her more, to talk, and enjoy her company. Zeke enjoyed her company, honestly.

[member="Loreena Arenais"]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

Oh Lori and [member="Zeke Tune"] would have to trade stories some day over their slave rescue missions. To hear that he used different tactics and even paid for the slaves themselves was music to her ears. And he had wealth? Such a thing only mattered to her in the respect that if she did tell him that she was a Princess, trying to cash out on that might be the furthest thing from his mind. Which was a good thing.

"I don't know what would have happened if the Sith caught me while I was trying to escape their siege. They have been known for slavery as well..." Lori couldn't imagine livong that kind of life. Yes she served Mandalorians drinks and food when she was first brought under their care. But that was different. She wasn't a slave. She had the choice to do it or not to do it.

Lori nodded as Zeke seemed to be aware of the same custom towards the dead. He was respectful of them and that was something that she liked. "Thank you...I'm guessing that he'd probably be embarrassed, in all honesty." She laughed a little as she thought about it.

And then there it was. He asked her for a refill of her drink and a movement of location. Not only that but he was giving her compliments? Lori found her cheeks starting to blush a little as the looks that he was giving her seemed...real. She wasn't gifted in Force powers that could read minds or affect the mind at all, really. So she could only rely on her instinct. That instinct was telling her that he had no ill intentions. And besides...he was charming.

"Alright, sure." She got to her feet and waited for him to do the same before she got her refill and walked over to the booth. The dance floor was filling up moreso now. [member="Jayce Pryde"] was pretty good. The dancing reminded her of some of the holovids she had seen.

Lori placed her drink on the table and slid into the booth, waiting until Zeke got in before she began to speak. "So where is it that you need to go for your interview? Is it for your artwork?
I'd love to see some of them sometime. I haven't met a real artist before."

 

[Mauda]

I looked at Kelsie with surprise

"Faster and Better? Well. I've only tried it once or twice but I'll have to take you up on that some time. I'm guessing you don't spend a lot of time in any underworlds to be entertaining.. Or rather Boring yourself with Swoop Races?"

She had an air of sophistication, but not one comparable to that of the average Noble or Upper-class citizen. It was a rough sophistication, one I see in some of the most accomplished smugglers.

[member="Kelsie Sylvan"]

 

[Zeke Tune]

The artist frowned as she talked about Sith. Instinctively his hand reached out, and patted the top of one of her hands. It was a brief contact, but it was there. “I am glad they did not. The Sith are a horrible people. While some have decided to do good in the galaxy, that number is very very small. Most of them would eat you and torture you for fun. It's horrible.” His voice was soft, as if he had personal experience. “I'm happy you are here, safe, able to talk to me. Honestly I am, I'm rather enjoying myself. I now shudder to think how much more lonely this night could have been.”

He got up, refilled his drink as well, and walked with her side by side to the booth. As they slid in, he sat close to her to make it easier to talk with her, hear her, and just keep giving her his full attention. Zeke gave her the brightest smile he possibly could. The lights were not as harsh here, and the sound was much more muffled, which made it easier to hear one another. His own eyes sparkled in the light. He rested his drink on the table, and then let one of his hands rest on the table surface as well.

“Oh! Yeah, I was here helping an old friend open an art gallery on the station. I have a few replicas on display there. It was fun to help him set up, but I ran into shuttle trouble on the way here. Barely managed. My next interview is on Corellia, actually. I recently created a statue to commemorate the anniversary of one of their social leaders birth. They want to interview, do a few holophotos and the like. But I admit, if you are here, I probably will want to be late for awhile.” If she looked up Zeke on the holoweb, she would find he was one of the galaxy's more popular artists at the moment, his original pieces selling for millions of credits, his official copies went for a hundred thousand or more. And replicas often went for tens of thousands of credits. He would be all over the holonews campaigning for the Tune Foundation, a massive charity organization that sponsored relief efforts across the galaxy.

However, that was neither here nor there. “Honestly, my art work is a passion project. It's difficult, sometimes I get spontaneous inspiration daily and other times it doesn't come for months. But I admit, I have been fixated on your eyes. They are beautiful, so much life in them. Since first looking into them, I've been wanting to paint something fierce. But frankly, I want to talk to you more so much more. But, one day, I would love to just paint, while staring into them.....erm, is that creepy?” The man's face winced a bit, and he gave some nervous laughter. He was a bit nervous, and so babbled some. “It's hard, an artist is based on what they find interesting, or what speaks to them, and sometimes it comes from sudden sources. I've literally dropped everything I was supposed to do for weeks, to simply paint, after seeing something that caught my attention. My agent is always on my case to not forget myself." He had to admit to himself, he really liked the way she looked when she began to blush. Maybe a portrait of that? It would be hard to paint her eyes if she wasn't there though, they had to much complexity.

[member="Loreena Arenais"]

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

"Eat me?" Lori snickered a little as the very idea seemed...absurd to her. "I don't think that was ever a part of their plans. They'd of used me against my parents, to bring them to heel. More than likely they'd try to brainwash me or turn me into a Sith. Or...just keep me locked up for a long time." In truth she didn't really know what the Sith would have done. Those were just the ideas that she could more or less live with, as opposed to being tortured and eaten. "But there's no need to worry about it now. Commenor is free, the Sith are bothering people elsewhere and I'm no longer being hunted by them." Hopefully that'd last for a long, long time. But the future was very impossible to predict.

Just like right now for example. Did she ever expect that she'd be sitting here with [member="Zeke Tune"] in a booth? Did she ever expect that someone would be so interested in whatever she had to say? Did she ever expect to have some things in common with what could be a very famous artist? The answers to all of those questions was no. She was always the third or fourth wheel, the tag-a-long, the goofball Lori that walked on so many different paths in order to find out just where she'd fit in that she wasn't even sure of who she really was.

"You have artwork here?
In a gallery? I'd love to see them." She could show him her ship as well and see if it was suitable for his journey. If anything, it'd give her an excuse to get to know him more.

By the Force, was she really wanting that?

She had another sip of her drink, hiding her face behind her glass a bit again as he spoke of wanting to paint her eyes. That would certainly be a first. She'd never had her potrait done before. "It's not creepy, Zeketune." Again she used his full name as though it was merely his first. "I'd love to see what you see. I'm sure that it's different from what I see." Would it be flattering? With the way that he was looking at her, and with how close he sat next to her, she had a feeling that it would be.