Goodest Bad Guy
CORELLIA
LOCAL TIME:2420
Like the off-by-an-hour clock, Corellia always kept him on his toes. But at the moment, Nej could barely stand. He was a walking hypocrisy. He always preached about the 'adventure', the 'life', the 'next big score'. But truth was, ever since he got the Hutts off his back... well, all he wanted was one thing. And that thing wasn't even a thing, it was a woman. Not a girl, not a lady, a woman. Her name was Ayessa Kroan, and it would be burned in his soul for the longest. But here he was, alone again. She disappeared, ventured into the void, somewhere. The galaxy swallowed her up. It did that, you know? Swallowed people up, no warning, no rhyme, no reason. He had no idea where she went, where she was. Alive, dead. The possibilities were too many for him to think about without finding out how ozone tasted coming out of the business end of a blaster.
So there he was, drunk on Corellia. It was after the workweek, so all the spacers, shipwrights, dockworkers- in this quarter, they were drinking, partying, enjoying each other's company. But it was getting late. And all Nej was doing- was stumbling down the street, drunk off his ass. He hadn't been sober in a few days, not more than a few hours at least. Drinking the days away seemed like a good plan. His plans were rarely 'good' plans, but this one not a single part of him could argue with.
He'd spent his whole life in a haze, with one sort of failure after the other. It was only after he found her that he found a purpose. She was gone now though, drifted into the void. The girl who stole the thief's heart. The kind of crappy novel you pick up when you're checking out to read. Predictable characters. Femme fatale, battle-hardened warrior Jedi, with a penchant for righteousness and justice. Down-on-his-luck scoundrel trying to make his way in the galaxy. He swore he heard it before.
But the story, his story- didn't have a happy ending.
He wanted to see her again, but the only time he got to see her was in his memories. He wanted to see her without the dream between them. He wanted a lot right now. But if he couldn't have her- he'd at least go for another drink. Another bar, another scoundrel stumbling in. Time for another drink.
And so, Nej Tane entered the Happy Welder, a smuggler's and shipworker's bar. He was welcomed here, at least- by cursory glances that disregarded him as another piece of organic trash floating around the galaxy. He was just trying to make his way, after all. But for now, he made his way to the bar, looking up at the bartender.
Mandalorian Tihaar was pricey, but it was worth the kick. He was an experienced drinker, the kind that could give tips on how to drink during a workday and not get caught. That kinda drinker. So now, glass of clear liquid engine cleaner in his hands, he took a sip, down the hatch, and once again- Nej Tane went down the drain.
But he'd come out somewhere just fine, eventually.