Wayfar Far Away [Ashborn]

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=28pt]Tatooine[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=28pt]Wayfar[/SIZE]​

​

​

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​

[SIZE=10.5pt]As far away from Silver Jedi protected space the better as far as she is concerned. Abaigeal wiped down the top of the bar counter with the cleanest rag she could find, it used to be white but now an ugly shade of grey, but she cared little about that. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Working in the Wayfar cantina here on Tatooine is average, with average patrons, average wages and average accommodation. Well at least she had a roof over her head and a bed to lay straight in and no longer had to sleep in the cockpit of her mother’s ship, a beaten up old republic A-Wing, her mother had kept in mint condition, The Crossfire Hurricane, racing ship red with laser scorch marks crisscrossing all over it. She never did ask her mother why she kept it that way. Ironic really, considering Iella had burrowed it from a pirate so many years ago from this very planet. This ship had gotten her mother in trouble, but Abaigeal out of it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“Hurry up girl, the doors will open soon”,[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]the big burly old fat human man called Vince threw at her. Vince is alright keep the place well enough and pays her on time, even gave her that room at the back of the bar to rest her head. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“Yeah yeah keep your hair on”, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]she shot back but quickened her pace. Abaigeal straightened down her apron just as the doors opened and the usual barflies entered and took up their usual seats. Without even asking Abaigeal poured them their poison and placed it in front of them all. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“On the tab I take it?”,[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] she said walking away, she got no replies save grumbles and complaints about the temperature of the ale. “Want ice? Go to Hoth”. Abaigeal moved out into the main bar area fixing up the seats placing them neatly around the small tables, the job she had not completed before the doors opened. She walked passed the door and looked out into the sandy street, squinting her eyes against the harsh sun light, not much in the way of movement, the odd speeder passing and so she went back to work. [/SIZE]

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

Some commotion could be heard from outside the seedy cantina. Not uncommon for a place like this; unsavory (well, more unsavory) characters were denied entrance all the time by its bouncers. It didn't take long for the commotion to end, however, as the doors were thrown open and a large, dark figure entered. Donning his Crimson Phoenix suit of armour, the character known as the Ashborn stepped inside. His fiery gaze was the only thing that stood out from his black robes and hood, looking to the bar with steely determination.

Once stood before the young woman serving drinks, he took a good minute before even speaking, hardly looking her way. "You're gonna need a new bouncer", he finally told her in his deep, rough voice before turning and walking towards the back of the room without even bothering to place an order. He cared little for the wannabe mercenaries and villanous scum he passed on the way, bumping into them haphazardly before taking a seat in the farthest corner, facing the bar. He had little patience for people attempting to backstab him, after all.

While sat there in that bar on that waste of a planet, his mind was solely occupied on one thing. One person. There was nothing for him to live for, anymore; nowhere to go and no-one to care for, and yet he was too cowardly to take his own life. The amount of shame and self-loathing he felt had no equal, in this life or the next. He'd already witnessed the pits of hell twice in his lifetime, yet both times he was spat out as the abyss seemingly held no place for him. All he could do now was try and do what his Queen would've wanted him to do, but even she was much too subtle in her intentions for him that he failed to notice.

If only one of these sods would just draw their blasters, already. Maybe then he could be put out of his misery. Then again, probably not.

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

Well the one walking in was not one of the usuals. Her eyes looked over the massive man as he approached the bar. He said nothing, just stood there barely even looking around but this gave her time to study him a little. She doubted she had or would never see a more beaten face, eyes like fire burning an eternal flame and flicked with yellow. An impressive sight in many ways, decked out in full armour which did not go unnoticed by the patrons at the bar, who shifted away somewhat not wanting to get the attention of the man. She did not blame them.

Abaigeal was about to move toward him waiting on his order but instead. "You're gonna need a new bouncer".

“Vince! You’re gonna need a new bouncer!”, she yelled informing the boss who was none too happy. Vince scurried out from the back room where he had been stocktaking and out the door only to find a body lying in the sandy streets. Abaigeal craned her head around the large man only to see the feet of the bouncer being dragged away.

The man moved to the back of the room in a corner and sat pensive. Abaigeal grabbed a glass from the washer and began to dry it with that dirty rag all the time not taking her eyes of the flaming eyes and gnarled face. He is waiting on her to wait on him, well he can wait.

She wiped a couple more glasses before she moved out from behind the bar and approached the big man. “You wont to order something?”, she asked, “Cause you can’t just sit here you know, not without buying something, otherwise I am gonna have to throw you out”. Yeah good luck with that, Abaigeal. However, she did pick up on his force signature and no doubt he would her’s, powerful he is and sitting there with a heavy dose of darkness.

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

Words were suddenly spoken at him. The girl from behind the bar. He didn't make any acknowledgement of her being there other than through words. "I can't?" he replied, staring straight ahead at nothing. "That body outside said the same thing, oddly enough. What makes you think he was wrong where you are right?" There was no amusement in his voice, or even any malice. Just a monotone string of words that he had little wish to utter in the first place.

His eyes then lifted to meet hers as she stood at the far end of the table. "Of all the people in this room, you are the last person I wish to cause harm, girl. For your sake, I hope it stays that way." He resumed his blank stare into nothing. "I don't drink. Leave me be and there won't be trouble." The girl may never know it, but he had spoken the truth. Even as he had lost all purpose he still felt an urge to protect someone. Anyone. Such was his nature - the one piece still clinging onto him from his former life.

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

She rested the palms of her hands on the small table and leaned in as he spoke, almost as if daring him to do something. His words doing little to frighten her, she had heard far worse threats coming from her torturer, threats that were made good, the scars over her body are testament to that. "I don't care if you don't drink", she whispered back. "But you can't sit here without nothing", she was most insistant, normally she would just leave things be and let the boss deal with it, but there is a curiosity growing in her about this man.

Abaigeal pushed herself up off the table without another word and turned, walking back behind the bar, she grabbed a clean glass and a bottle of water before coming back over to the fire eyed man. She placed the bottle and glass on the table with a thud, "At least pretend". She put her hand out for the credit for the water. "Water is valuable on Tatooine", she flicked the ends of her fingers to encourge him to cough up the coin.

While she waited, her eyes traced his face once more, "You passing through I take it, it is very obvious you are not local", she asked as a means to pry some information out of him, most of the regular patrons have told her their life stories, with emblishing graduality, stories she has heard more then once, it would be nice for a fresh one. It is a good way to pass the time either that or get a smack for her troubles. However, even though she would try, she knew he was not the talkative type.

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

She's not letting it go. The persistance is strong in this one. Strangely enough, the Ashborn found it an admirable trait to possess. He himself was stubborness made corporeal, many had told him. A few of them he even let live. Begrudgingly he grabbed the glass of water and just held it in his hand. Even more begrudgingly he took a sip from it, eyeing her in the process with his infernal eyes. "What gave it away?" he asked, knowing the answer and not really expecting one to begin with.

He then took a moment to actually examine the barmaid as he settled the glass back onto the table. "I've never liked water. All my life it's tried to kill me, you might say." Quite the understatement, given his circumstances. Since his rebirth into human form he'd been given more and more memories of his childhood back, including the time he almost drowned when out swimming with his brother. Growing up on Pelagon, swimming was second nature to all natives. Suffice to say he never swam again after that. Now he was a servant of fire and flames, of rage and regret. The Force does have a sense of humour, it seems. Or maybe it is irony? Semantics.

"Look, kid - I'm not the kind of person to get friendly with. It will only cause you pain in the end, and I'll be the one to blame. It's happened before, and... and it'll happen again." Again he took a sip from his water, more to shut himself up than to quench his thirst. He'd already said too much to his liking. So she got you to talk. Big deal.

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“Too much water will kill you, as will to little”, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]she said while cleaning the table next to him, with a sly grin on her face. Abaigeal worked around the room, collecting glasses and tiding up mess left behind by the patrons. It is quiet in here today, but no doubt would get busy later in the evening. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“So why did you come in here?, if you are not interested in drinking or gambling or whatever vice you are in to .. surely you did not come in here simply to think”,[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] she shot him a look, to see if he would react at all to the question, she began to suspect, rightly or wrongly, that he might be here to spy or get information. This would not be a surprise in this place, or this planet after all this place attracts the worst of the galaxy in all forms of life. Some come to cut a deal, gamble, murder or escape life, the latter is her excuse. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Abaigeal was only given a Look Kid followed by some sort of inference she was trying to come on to him. Friendly? What does he take me for! [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]“Hey buddy! if you think I am here talking to you to solicit you, you are very much mistaken. If you are looking for that kind of thing, go take yourself off to the bar a couple of doors down from here, you will find plenty of friendlies there.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]The patrons in the bar knew better than to try that with Abaigeal, having seen others try and live to regret it, some of them chuckled and watched to see what would happen between the two. Others could not care less. However, Abaigeal solved the situation by moving away from him, he has his drink, he can sit there all he likes in silence. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]But there is one person in the bar watching more intently then required, watching the girl move around the bar never taking his eyes off her, and not because of any physical attraction. As Abaigeal moved back behind the bar, her face etched in anger she shot them all a look to kill if anyone would be foolish enough to say a word. The person watching her finally stood and approached.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt] “I am looking for the owner of an old republic A-Wing, a friend of my is very .. very interested in it”,[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] is all he said as if to the whole bar. It was at this point the bar usuals turned away and returned to paying more attention to their drinks and personal conversation.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Furiously cleaning an already clean glass, Abaigeal’s eyes darted to the man asking the question. “Who wants to know?”. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt][member="Thyrian Ashborn"][/SIZE]​

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

Why are you even bothering? You know you can't hold a conversation with anyone. The barmaid then suddenly got the wrong idea about something he said and stormed off. What it exactly was he'll never understand, then again he didn't much care to really find out. Still, he never took his eyes off her as she turned around and resumed her duties. Somehow this young woman had caught his attention, much as he'd like to deny it. Maybe it was the total lack of human interaction since his beloved passed away. Since he killed her.

Again he was left alone with his thoughts. It could be a dangerous thing with him, as his subconscious would often taunt him into rash action. He'd learned how to keep out the voices most of the time, but sometimes they slipped through one way or another. Every time they did, someone's gotten hurt. The first time was his master, urging him to lash out against her as a way to prove her power over him. One strike against her cheek, so pale and beautiful, then it was over. He was fully and completely hers.

Last time it happened, he... It cost him her life. How could he ever let someone get close to him ever again? He was not well, unstable. He could as much kill everyone in this cantina as he could leave peacefully, and it wouldn't even be up to him; the voices would whisper their poisonous words and he would heed them.

Then suddenly, Thyrian snapped back into reality. The girl, she was talking to someone. Get a hold of yourself. Why care about her, all of a sudden? "Shut up", he told himself in hushed tone as he downed the remainder of his water before rising from his seat to get a better look at the man she was talking to. Unsavory, just like the rest of 'em. This could get ugly in the blink of an eye. If nothing else, he would see that it did.

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[SIZE=10.5pt] "My friend is looking for someone, seems has returned and owes him", [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]he did not give his name, instead placed his blaster casually on the bar top.[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]"If anyone knows of this person you will be reward most handsomely, she goes by the name of E'ron". [/SIZE]

Abaigeal placed the glass she was cleaning down and wiped both hands on her apron as if to flatten out the ceases, but in reality she felt the comfort of her lightsaber hilt. Her eyes did not seek the patrons or anyone but remained fixed on what appeared to be a bounty hunter. She had never told Vince her full name, no one here knows and it appeared he was looking for her mother.

"Never heard of the name", she said with a shrug of the shoulders. However, some of the patrons knew Abaigeal owned the ship the man spoke of and moved off their stools and went for the door. This was enough to inform the bounty hunter that his quarry is close, he eyed Abaigeal with fixed eyes as if trying to read her thoughts.

He leaned in, [SIZE=10.5pt]"Oh I think you have", [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]his voice very pointed in remark.[/SIZE]

Oh this was a pity, she had come to like her room out back and now it appeared she would have to leave Tatooine and go on the run. That or end it right now. "I don't like you or your blaster on the bar, get out". she said in a very low tone which if anyone knows her is a sign she is about to explode in temper, couple that with the boiling of her Sith blood now fuelled with the darkside, the man would not live much longer. Under her apron her hand grips the hilt of her saber.

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

He had heard of the name E'ron before. One does not work alongside a master of intelligence without picking up a few things, among them being that this E'ron was a Jedi Master and leader of a certain group of Jedi somewhere outside of Republic space. It mattered little to him at the time, though he suspected the knowledge to come in handy sooner than he once thought with this turn of events.

In mere seconds he'd made his way from his table to where the man and the barmaid were speaking. Despite the murmuring going on in the background, he'd very much been able to pick up on their conversation even as he sat the farthest away from the two. Thyrian grabbed his shoulder. "Leave the young lady alone, karkface. Pick on someone your own size." The man turned and looked into the fiery eyes of the Ashborn staring him down with stern gaze. The man looked like he was about to soil himself, but then shot a glance to the right, and sure enough someone was actually stupid enough to hit him with one of the bar stools. Hardly felt a thing thanks to his armour.

Thyrian didn't even flinch, his face merely taking on a mildly annoyed expression as he proceeded to headbutt the man in his grasp, knocking him out. "Really shouldn't have done that..." he spoke as his eyes literally became like two balls of fire, their flames harmlessly licking his face. He turned and pointed to the one who hit him with the chair. "You're next." He threw himself at the poor guy and proceeded to punch his face into oblivion, creating a terrible mess of blood and broken bones. He stood back up once the deed was done, glaring at the remaining patrons with his infernal gaze. "Anyone else? ANYONE?!"

In his enraged state he looked to the young woman, reading fear and disgust on her face. It made him calm himself, and before anyone knew it he returned to the man who'd entered the cantina in the first place. Adjusting his robes somewhat, he passed the barmaid. "Told you this would happen." He then left the same way he came, leaving behind him only destruction and misery as always. Once outside, he merely stood leaning against the wall as he collected himself. His head was held in shame as if knowing his Queen would not have approved of his conduct.

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

After the fight in the bar, Abaigeal was promptly sacked on the spot. Vince had had enough of the trouble she seemed to attract and had no further wish to explain away more bodies to the authorities, as corrupt as they are, they still made life unbearable to the more innocent of civilians here on Tatooine.

In her room at the back of the bar, she packed what little possessions her had in a small backpack. On a table by the one and only window sits the black orchid encased and shrouded with a piece of fabric to keep the light of day away from it's delicate petals. Taking off her apron and folding it before placing it on the table, she put on the backpack and cradled the orchid in her arms. She left via the back door and turned into the narrow alley by the side of the Inn.

The day light pierced her eyes, hurting until her eyes adjusted to it. The day is hot and stifling and soon the winds would come, making the all residence take cover until it passes. Abaigeal entered the street and stopped looking in both directions, until she saw the large man that just destroyed two people. For the moment she just looked at him, amazed at what she had just witnessed and even more so now that he stood bent in shame, it appeared. Why he felt shame at this point, she cared little for that would be his cross to bare or purge. But regardless of this he had just saved her.

"You did", she said softly as she approached, her way of response to his last words to her, and even managed a small smile. "Thank you", she offered to him for saving her skin, she had nothing else to offer in gratitude, save her words. She looked around the street once more as if trying to decide her direction, and in a way she was, in life as much as the present. Where to now?

"Seems I need to find a new home, got any suggestions?", she would work something out of course. But for some strange reason, she found she wanted to remove his mind from whatever plagues him, whether he liked it or not remained to be seen. She would put her life on the fact that he would simply walk away without a word.

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

As soon as the girl came into view he adjusted his stance to that of a bit more stoic, straightening his back and holding his head high. Rather than acknowledge her thanks, he shrugged. "You should learn how to defend yourself if you're gonna work in a place like that. That lightsaber alone won't save you unless you know how to use it", he told her while gesturing to her hidden hilt. "Where did you get it? If your answer is 'I stole it', you should know I have little patience for thieves."

Thyrian watched her with those fiery eyes of his, shining brighter than the Tatooine twin-suns. He then placed his hand underneath her chin to raise her head somewhat until their eyes met. "They say you can find out everything about a person via her eyes. 'Windows of the soul' and all that crap." He said nothing more on the subject, and for the moment he merely stood looking into her eyes. His hand had trailed down her neck as he gripped around it gently, applying no pressure as he only wished to keep her in place. His hardened expression softened ever so slightly over the duration of the silent moment the two shared.

The moment ended with him carefully stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. It was not out of love that he did it, but rather pity. He made no attempt to make his intentions known to her. Keeping eye-contact he pulled his black hood over his head before finally turning around to walk. "You're with me now. What I say, goes. Do not make me regret this."

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

“I did not steal it”, she said with an air of offence. “How I got it is my business”, she added having no intentions to give more information of herself as necessary. Need only bases as they say. He is asking questions she is not prepared to give answers too, after all she only just met him and for all purposes and what she had witnessed in the bar, with those fire eyes of his, the guy is a Sith, and Abaigeal is not prepared to mess with the likes of them again any time soon.

Expect the unexpected, they say also. They is very wise. Her green eyes met his as he tilted her head to pierce into her soul, she could only look back as if mesmerised by the flames within his. Abaigeal looked directly into the fires of hell, but that is the intention, behind the flames is sadness, deep, cutting, pain beyond what would be considered rational. However, a flash of fear ran through her body as he gripped her neck but it only rested there and a flicker of softness came and went in the briefest of moments. Like a moth to the flame, she felt like in that moment.

There is good there, in those eyes as bright as Suns, but how does it manifest? Well, she knew the answer to that really. Abaigeal has no purpose, life for her set adrift, but she is in no condition to try and save souls, possessing a soul shattered, she doubted she would anyway. She could see the look in his eyes, “I don’t want your pity”, she said in a low tone without any sense of ill will as his hand caressed her cheek. She moved her face away from his hand.

“Why?” she asked, not afraid of him in the slightest, she probably should be but she is defiant. “Why should I go with you? I know nothing of you nor you me. And don’t be so sure I could not slit your throat. I can handle myself well enough”, she said but found her feet moving to follow him. She wanted his answer, but was that why she followed? It is, but she also liked the idea of companionship, but at what cost. What would be the price to pay to rid this loneliness.

As they walked, she came alongside of the man only to move passed him, it turned out they would head in the same direction anyway. She made her way to her ship and popped open the canopy, nothing and no one in this galaxy would make her leave her mother’s ship. She placed all her belongings in the cockpit before turning to the man. “I am not going to be caught out a second time, and end up on a slab to be tormented. Who would have regret then?”, her eyes would tell the story well enough, she has no training to conceal her emotions.

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​

 

[Thyrian Hearthfire]

The Ashborn cared little for her display of independence. That's what youths do, he'd learned. He wanted to lash out against her, tell her how she knew nothing of regret, but it would not help his case. No need to add his pain to hers. "You want to find your place in the galaxy. You want revenge so that you may know peace. I can offer both, and more." He looked over her ship without any signs of what he thought of it. "Look, kid - I won't force you to come with me. All I ask is that you search your soul for what you want in life", he told her. Kära was always way better at this recruitment stuff.

Reaching into one of the pouches on his belt he presented her with a holo-projector showcasing the massive Tulak Hord-class Star Destroyer under his command. "Take it. Come find me if you change your mind. Everything you need will be provided for." Without further delay he then turned and walked away, leaving the girl to her thoughts. Neither knew the other's name, and if she wanted to learn more then she would have to show up. Making his way to his own private ship - the Phoenix - Thyrian hailed the XO of the Judgement several lightyears away so as to not draw attention to themselves.

"This is Darth Taral. Prepare a room for our soon-to-be guest."

[member="Abaigeal E'ron"]​

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

For several moments, Abaigeal just looked at the holo-projector and the hulk of a ship, in silence. Although she heard every single word the man spoke, she did not look at him, her focus on what he had said. Is she after revenge, to find peace within herself? Yes, it is festering deep within her, and she cursed the man for seeing it in her, she cursed herself for having it. But he is right, she would never be able to achieve revenge without learning and training and now in this isolated place on Tatooine a stranger comes to offer a means to do it.

A Sith to teach her how to kill Sith, how ironic, poetic and made complete sense. Finally her head lifted only to see the man walk away toward his ship, she watched him until he vanished from sight. Such a tall frame of a man, broad and strong of body but a wealth of life experience written over him, through him and there is much more to his story then she could image. Maybe time will reveal some of it, she doubt he would ever give himself completely.

Abaigeal climbed into the cockpit and strapped in and began to cycle the engines, while she wait for them to warm she opened the holo-projector once more and watched the swirling image of the SD, the ship held no interest for her, but was it to represent her new home, at least for a while? She had a decision to make and quickly as he would not wait to long for her.

Some time had passed before the control panel beep to inform her the ship was ready for take off, she lowered the canopy and lifted the A-Wing off the ground and headed to the skies. The sensor array feeding her data on all ships in the immediate area, on ground and atmosphere, mostly freighters laden with cargo, some capital ships and a fighter, mostly coming or going into the run. Nothing out of the ordinary for Tatooine. Save for one.

An unidentified ship, a warship by the look of it moved high to atmosphere before changing trajectory off the run. Although she did not know his name, or the name of his ship, Abaigeal knew he is on board and changed her flight path to match it and she will follow him.

"I hope I don't regret this". she said to no one.

[member="Thyrian Ashborn"]​