We Feed Children So That Makes It Ok... Right?

[James Justice]

Telling James where to go and what to do was generally a bad idea. And in this case, it was no exception. He had a few authority issues. He went into the common room and sent a quick message ordering the Cardinal company rangers to trail them from a distance subtly. He had been through too much in this galaxy to not take evasive and prepared actions.

He wandered out of the common room into her room. James stepped in just in time to watch Celiana step into the shower. He caught quite an eye full and gave a low whistle.

Anyone who knew James knew he was a man who really couldn't pass up a good looking woman. Every single one was more unique than a custom star fighter. Each one was intricately gorgeous.

Taking a swig from his bottle James meandered into the bathroom and leaned against the tile wall. Taking an occasional sip from his bottle every now and then he watched Celiana with a twinkling eye. Every time he caught a glance of her more womanly features he let out a low whistle and a shake of his head.

The crime lord wasn't know for his commitment. At least, not anymore. He didn't do commitment after Anara just disappeared. But there were a lot of things that didn't require commitment. And those things James had developed a reputation as a living legend for doing better than most. Being half Zeltron, Empathic, and a highly emotional Force user and hedonist made him a perfect storm. He licked his lips as she lathered up, there was nothing quite like soap suds to make a good thing even better.

"I dun't do commitment," he reminded her, handing her a towel as she out of the shower. "But I give a hellva good time. In case ye change ye mind."

As she exited the shower he moved to give her butt a playful slap. That was one thing about the Echani that was so unique about their women. The warrior spirit gave them some of the finest, most toned butts in the galaxy. Celiana was no exception.

He followed after her, getting another eyefull as she dressed. Sometimes that was just as good as undressing. And frankly, he wasn't even going to pretend to hide what he was thinking.

"I ain't one to pry," he said leaning against the door way to the bathroom, "But ye thinkin' bout investing in land? Soceras has some nice places for cheep and we got some of the safest space in the galaxy."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I didn't mind the looking from James or him handing me a towel but when he moved to slap my ass as I got out of the shower even though I figured he was joking I caught his hand and twisted firmly but gently. I glared at him and said in a low voice, "James, you can look but you can't touch. I'm someone else's girlfriend and I love her far too much to fool around with you even if you are a handsome fella with the whole bad-boy thing down pat."

I figured James would continue to watch me but I wanted some privacy while I dressed so wrapped in the towel I padded barefoot over towards a corner of my bed by my dresser and pulled a silk screen printed with Cherry Blossoms to surround that area. Toweling off my hair and wiping down my body with the towel I dropped the towel and opened the dresser pulling on some underwear then padding over to my walk-in closet I pulled the navy blue dress I'd been thinking about off of a hangar and pulled it on over my head and shoulders. Slipping my arms through the holes I spun around quickly and saw that my tattoo along my shoulders was visible along with a decent amount of cleavage.

It was a modest dress but sexy at the same time. Pushing the silk screen back I grabbed my navy blue open toed heels and grabbed the Evenstar necklace I'd had made. Joining James again I began strapping my heels on and turning to look at him I said, "James can you help me with this?" Holding the two ends of the necklace behind my neck I waited for him to help me with fastening the clasp. I saw the pearl handled pistol James had on his belt and I realized that I wouldn't be able to hide much with the dress I was wearing. There was the possibility of wearing some knives along my upper thigh and my sabers hidden in the belt in my ebony riding cloak. For now though I waited for James to help me fasten the clasps of my necklace...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James was--getting a lot of mixed signals here. On one had, she was ok with him drooling over her in the shower, but she was really cutting it along a hard to see line. And her choice of dress--wasn't helping him decipher things either. Generally speaking, when he saw a body language and verbal difference, he did what most people did--and went with the non-verbal.

"I dun't have the badboy thing down pat," he said with an impish chuckle, "I am the badboy."

He didn't see what having a girlfriend had to do with, well fooling around. It never stopped his ex's before from cheating on him, even if he was faithful to them. But, that was the life of the bad girl, he supposed. He needed someone better, someone good in his life, but he was too afraid to taint them and wreck their life, just like he wrecked everything else in life.

He strode over and clasped her necklace, taking it in his hands. He furrowed his brow, trying to repress memories as he pulled the fragile parts together. How many times had he done that for Leighlah? Not many, they didn't have much jewelry, he couldn't afford it even on his best days. He had nothing then, nothing but her, his ship, a blaster, and the will to live. Now he had so much more and--It felt so empty.

He pulled the clasp through the eye of the chain, still reminiscing. There was one necklace, though, that he had given her. They were teens then, his dad had already vanished from the picture, just like his mom. He had committed a quick smuggling run through the Hydan Way and risked life and limb to get the necklace for her. It wasn't even worth that much. But the look on her face had made it worth every ounce of danger.

The ship pinged, interrupting his awkward few moments of thoughts.

'There," he said hastily, striding a few steps away. He hated feeling these things, he hated it. He needed--he needed--his bottle. A drink. Yes, more alcohol to numb the pain, he thought as he looked around for where he had set it.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I could feel James drifting thoughts and felt his fingers brush against my neck as he fastened the clasp of my necklace. As he finished clasping it I turned around to see him looking around in a slightly panicked way. Probably for whatever alcoholic beverage he'd brought along. While I did have my own private stock of different alcoholic beverages I wouldn't be letting James have them. Though to his credit he hadn't lit up any cigarettes in my ship for which I was thankful. There was a chiming from my ship and walking over to my personal computer I checked what the notification was for.

I wasn't too surprised, James had ordered some group or another that he probably had dealings with to pursue my ship from a discreet distance. Though my ship was equipped to sense many different things even in the midst of a hyperspace jump. It seemed there was a small squad of fighters following my ship. Though, if it made James feel safer I supposed that was something to allow. I couldn't help but think that this might be the beginning of a good working relationship. Placing my hand discreetly on the side of my desk I opened a hidden compartment and pulled out a thigh holster with the distinct needle-like throwing knives I normally carried for discreet use on certain missions. Slipping the thigh holster up my left leg I placed the knives on the outside of my left upper thigh. The other notification was that we'd be dropping back into real-space in around 10 minutes. Leaning back in my chair I let my eyes drift to a half-closed state and began meditating until we dropped back into real-space.

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James found the bottle set on a side table and quickly took a swig from it. He hated this. He hated emotions, he hated all of this. He hated the way these memories always came up at the wrong time, and he hated the way he had to always be drunk or killing to be even feel-semi normal. But more than that, he hated himself for all the things he did when he was drunk, or raging.

He was on self destruct, the classic metacrisis man with more raging habits than he could hold in. That was just the beginning of things too. He watched as Celiana sat back and closed her eyes. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or what, but he could bet she was doing some mystical force jockey stuff. He reached into his pocket and quickly popped in his HUD contacts. They had been a gift, and a favor from someone in his crime circle. Frankly, at this point the writer didn't remember but the sub should be in the bio. With a quick double blink he brought them to life, and the display of data streaming from his datapad in his pocket was active. He sent a message to his slicer team back on Soceras and told them to begin gathering all the data there was on Celiana. It paid to stay paranoid, not just for his sake but for his friend's. He didn't get to the top by sitting on his hands.

A live feed of data ran before him. She was sporadic, eclectic. Data was sparse, hopping from person to person, place to place, thing to thing. She had grown up Ecchani, then apparently converted to the Mando and Jedi way. He gave a slight frown; that was too bad. Mandos had the habit of turning sexy lithe women into thick beef cakes with all that armor touting and heavy weaponry. She didn't seem to have any land. Criminal connections were nominal, and thank the space Jesus she wasn't involved in the Black Suns, semi-rivals of his. If by "rivals" you meant he had curb-stomped and all but bypassed them in every possible way. She was rather strait forward, very "by the book." That was too bad. She did have a love connection, James sent his team to start gathering all the data on her too. A lose plan began to formulate in his mind, and he sent a third order to free up and begin sending him raw data on available apartments in Dal'Bor's city districts...

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I had the feeling that if James was having a fighter squad escort us then he'd probably have some sort of information gathering in progress on me as well. There wasn't much to me that he'd find honestly. Echani training, then Mandalorian, and now Jedi training. Most of my money was earned in risky, non Jedi-approved ways such as bounty-hunting and self-directed sabotage and raiding missions. In fact if James was digging into my past too then he wouldn't find much. Certainly mention of the inter-species trafficking ring on Coruscant and what had happened to them, he wouldn't find any land in my name aside from the recent purchase of land to mine on out in the tundra of Arkania. My home on Voss wouldn't be listed in any records either as most of the Silver Jedi weren't aware of it and I hadn't bought it i'd simply done my own construction.

Eyes still half-closed I said, "By the way James the offer of land and property on Soceras is a nice gesture which I appreciate but I already have my home on Voss. I was paying attention when you mentioned it, and I'm not planning on moving to Soceras at any point. That being said I may come and visit The Angel's Den from time to time. Also since we've established a working relationship feel free to contact me about jobs."

It'd been about five minutes now since I'd mentioned dropping back into real-space so I went back to my meditation and waited for the notification that we'd be dropping back into real-space...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James really had nothing else to do. And, besides that, his writer wasn't exactly sure what else to do until they reached Coruscant. He gave her a pointed stare. If she could see him, then, well, she could see the dun't-question-me-James-knows-best look. His dark brown eyes almost dared her to question him. He had an ego the size of the Outer Rim, and he wasn't about to be questioned by anyone at all.

"Good for ye, Voss is a nice place, very homie, very lovely," He said with a half shrug. "Been there a few times, I liked it. But its a crapshoot for security. I smuggled in without even tryin' more than once. The Jedi be way to soft on who they let in, and their gentle loving security is a joke.

"Workin' with me be a polarizing thing. It ain't like bonkin' heads in the Outer Rim. Its deadly. And frankly, people die. The people around me get targeted, the people I love get targeted. The people who work for me find their loved ones in the target of me enemies. If ye think ye ain't gonna need safehouses, ye would be wrong. Ye will need a haven from time to time to keep from getting ye neck stretched, and if ye Aria be important to ye, ye'll take me safehouses for ye and use 'em when ye need em." He paused taking a pull from his bottle, "Imahaylan and Soceras both."

While he didn't own Imahaylan, Stardust ruled it, and she was his sister-in-law for all intents and purposes. And--on his payroll.

"Ye welcome."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

The meditation wasn't going well...Though James did have several valid points. Eyes still closed I said, "Interestingly enough I agree with most Jedi security being osik. Hence why my home was built by me as was the security system and surprises I hid about for defending my home. As for the working with you and people dying, what exactly do you think I did before joining the Jedi James? If you are a crime lord then I'm sure you'd have found out I was trained by both Echani and Mandalorians. What exactly do you think I did as a Mandalorian? Why aren't there records of that? Because I was and still am extremely good at nothing ever being discovered unless I wanted it to, bad fro business. There was an execution of a interspecies trafficking ring on Coruscant not long ago...that was me wanting my work seen."

Using The Force I lifted myself into the air and floated there. Eyes still closed I said, "As for the safe-houses I thought that was your attempt to get me to settle down somewhere near you. Your eyes and your lust-filled thoughts were easy to read so I assumed it was an attempt to get me comfortable and try to bed me. Though since you've now stated that they were meant as safe-houses I think I will take you up on that offer. As for Aria...I'd like to say she can handle whatever comes her way but frankly even with the skills and training I have I can't handle that much. So I do thank you for that offer and I will accept in that case."

Pausing I breathed out as a flash of memory came to mind, the diamonds from Arkania... Eyes still closed I asked James, "By the way James, what would you or your resources be able to trade me in exchange for 20 tons of raw Arkanian gems? Since I'm now working with you I figure it'd be a good idea to start stacking the deck in my favor. Information networks, weapon suppliers, ship outfitters, anyone who can organize a club? I've yet to actually get an estimate on the gems but I figure they're shiny and someone will pay a great deal for them."

Just then an announcement came across the ships' PA "system dropping back into real-space in 5...4...3...2...1 Re-entering real-space docking codes have been transmitted beginning descent vector into Coruscant landing pad 1137 in the dining and entertainment district." There was a slight lurch as we dropped back into real-space. Opening my eyes I lowered myself with The Force until I was able to extend my legs under me. As my heels clicked to the floor I pulled two more of the needle pointed throwing knives from the compartment on my desk I pulled my hair up into a bun and slipped the knives into place as hairpins. Hopefully James would have a response for my offer of a trade in gems for resources... I was sure he could find a use for them. Walking to my closet I grabbed my ebony black riding cloak and using The Force I called my sabers to both hands and slipped them into some pockets on the inside waist of my cloak.

Extending my arm I waited for James to take it and escort me to the boarding ramp we would be landing in under two minutes and I had yet to hear his response to my question about the gems...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James gave a half smirk, "Dun't oversell ye self. I have a city full of hookers. Ye are good, but ye ain't that good." His face grew gravely serious, "They tried to kill me daughters when I dun't even know they existed. I had to go and fish 'em out. They killed one's mum. I got reason enough to believe they killed me wife." A shimmer of regret and a pained expression shone through his eyes, "I dun't take chances anymore. Not with people's loves. Not with the ones they care about."

He looped his arm through hers and started strolling through the ship, bottle in the other hand, "When I started Justice Shipping, I had one rusty clunker, a blaster, a leather jacket and a pair of tin creds. People helped me get where I needed to be. People saved me life and helped me. In return, I provided for them." he glanced at Celiana, "Now we are a piracy mob. No one dare stands against us, and no one stops us. Ye do right for us, we do right for ye," He reached the door and stopped.

"Lemme tell ye a story," he said suddenly, "Was a lass named Rose Blade. She was Stardust's apprentice. Worked hard for me. Helped feed me people. Good lass, all things considered." he took a drink from his bottle, 'Then she decided to steal a third of me fleet and bomb me city. Just because. I found her, I tracked her down and I slaughtered her like an animal. And those who helped her--died too. I got a better fleet now. An orbital defense system." He smirked, "On the other hand, stardust been with me since the beginning. She owns her own fleet, her own company, and rules her own planet. She married one of me CEO, Gray Raxis.

"What be the moral of the story?" He felt the ship settle on the planet, and tapped the door open for Celiana, "The jewels wun't be a problem. I can run 'em along the Corrie Way into the Core and sell em to fat arses. As long as ye good to Justice, Justice will be good to ye."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smiling I said. "Good to hear James. I figured you'd be receptive to the trade of gems for resources. Also James, thank you...Even with being part of the Jedi I'd slaughter anyone who hurt Aria so the help protecting her and keeping her safe is worth the most to me. Forget credits, gems, information or power. None of it is worth it without her and you helping me to keep her safe is the way you just made yourself a lifelong ally."

Letting James grab my arm I walked down the ramp with him and exited my ship before heading to the dining section of the entertainment district. Soon we'd be enjoying stir-fry an Mongolian Barbecue...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James offered Celiana his bottle after taking another mouthful as they walked. He was a good man, a caring man--but he was also a cunning viper, a cold cunning viper that had been doing this for too long to have much soul left to care about. Either way, he would have an ally. If she stuck around to become part of the family, then she would be just that. Family.

He looked at the speeders and passersby as they made their way through the streets of the entertainment district.

"When that person ye care about the most is taken away from ye," he said softly, "It tears a hole in ye heart that never heals. Bread ne'er tastes the same. Life never is the same again. They tell ye its a phase, that ye will get over it. But it never stops. It keeps burning and going through ye heart like an iron."

He looked at the skyline quietly for a moment.

"All the money in the galaxies can't compare to a fraction of their worth."

He took a final swig from his bottle before tossing it on the street. They had arrived.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

As James offered me the bottle I ignored it, he spoke of how losing someone tore a hole in your heart that never fully healed. How the things you once enjoyed became meaningless and how the pain would renew itself like a never ending coal. Then he said, "All the money in the galaxies can't compare to a fraction of their worth." Looking at him I said, "Aye she is my galaxy and that's why I'll take whatever help you can provide me to keep her alive. It's also why I would kill anyone or anything that threatened her, why I would bleed anyone or anything that brought harm to her and do so slowly."

Heels clicking against the pavement as we walked James imbibing yet more alcohol we entered the area I had in mind and jsut as we arrived James tooka final swig and tossed the empty bottle into the street. Walking inside the restaurant a host approached and said, "Yes may I help you?" Smiling politely at him I said, "Yes I have a reservation for two under the name Drayven." The host looked at me and said excitedly, "Ahhh yes! Miss Drayven, Zachariah spoke highly of you he asked me to inform you that your bill has already been taken care of in thanks for the help supplying his business with the materails he needed. This way Miss Drayven if you'll follow me..."

Smiling to myself and following our host I knew that fencing the stolen diamonds to Zachariah had been a good investment, I wondered what Zara had been up to as well. Last I'd heard she'd found a nice upper class place here on Coruscant and was looking into starting up a few businesses and wanted my support as well as to cut me in. In any case I was glad to see that I'd made soem good choices in friends even if they were people who downed whole bottles of alcohol before a meal where there'd be top notch alcohol. Making our way to the table we sat and waited for the waitress to come and start things off...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James didn't joke around when it came to booze. When was the right time to get drunk? All the time. Every time. Anytime. That's when. Same for smoking. When they were led to the table, he fished out a cigarette and lit up a smoke. These were Justice Specials, home grown on Soceras to smell as sweet as they felt to the user. And they were not cheep either. He offered Celiana one as he took a second puff of smoke.

"So, tell me," James asked, flicking the ashes off his light, "There is a lot that I can tell by researching a body--sometimes even more by what I cain't find than by what I can. But all the research in the world can't answer the most important question of all," he took another drag of smoke from his cigarette, "What do ye want to do with ye life? I specialize in makin' dreams happen, the most wild to the least important.

"We all got goals in this galaxy," he said with a wave of his hand, "What's ye's?"

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I wasn't about to take the offered cigarrete, terrible habit really. But when asked what my dream was with his cheesy I can make dreams happen thing I smiled lightly and said, "You'll probably laugh at my dream Mr. Justice. In any case my dream for the moment is fairly simple, to make it to the rank of Jedi Knight. At which point I'd hopefully be able to take on an apprentice of my own train and mentor them. As for my working with Crime-lords, smuggling, theft of research and such...The Jedi don't pay me and while I do line up with the code and their ideals I can't very well pay for my liefstyle or be able to spoil my girlfriend without the money. That being said...I don't want to work forever I want to be able to retire someday and still support my liefstyle for myself and Aria."

As I finished explaining my dream the waitress came up and said, "Good evening Miss and sir, may I get you something to drink to get started?" Looking towards James I glanced back at the waitress a Mirialan young woman with a nice physique and soft lavender eyes then said, "Yes sugar, first there'll be a bottle of Hell-fire whiskey and on top of that I'll have a pot of Eshanese cherry blossom tea along with whatever the gentleman will be having. You can grab our order when you come back dear." The young woman inclined her head in a slight bow and walked off to get those started.

Turning back to James I said, "So now you've heard my dream James. But I have a counter-question for you, why were you interested in my dream?" Leaning forward I interlaced my fingers and set my elbows on the table with my mouth concealed behind my hands as I waited for his response...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James looked at the waitress giving her a once over. He made a mental note to hire her on for the Angel's Den. The writer refrained from making a comment about the unruly numbers of Mirialans that seemed to populate the thread. "What's ye house record for strong drinks, love?"

She blinked, looking a little confused, 'Sir? We don't have one."

"I'll take a bottle of lum. And keep 'em comin' I'm a heavy drinker, love."

"Oh, um, ok sir."

James rolled his cigarette over between his fingers for a moment, examining it before he answered. Well, at least Cel here was a realist. She didn't want galactic peace, home grown terror to end, or some sort of massive piece of the galaxy to rule. Thank the gods.

"Like I said, I am a maker of dreams comin' true," he said pressing the tobacco stub between his lips. He felt the warm, gorgeous smoke flow through his throat and fill his lungs. It came out in a thick, gorgeous cloud with each word he spoke. "I learn a lot about those I work with, ye understand. A lot. This business, as ye know, is like none other. I need to know what ye desires are in case we have different ideas on how to reach our goals, or different goals entirely, I am sure ye know what I mean."

He flicked the ashes off his cigarette with a flick of his wrist, "I hate Jedi. The whole fething lot. Sith, Jedi, saber jockeys. Too much dogma. Not enough pragmatism. They dun't do real help. I more damn help to a society with my blood shed and my theft than most Jedi ever do in a lifetime. Why? I fething break the bad ones. I dun't just tell them to sit the feth down and behave."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

The waitress looked confused at James comment about drinking records. Smirking at that I saw his eyes wander and as she left I listened to him speak. I agreed to a large degree though not with all of what he had to say about Jedi being too dogmatic. Smirking I said, "James I'm not saying Jedi are perfect because well here I am having dinner with a crime lord after stealinga ship and blowing things and people half or entirely to hell. That being said I'm not entirely in life for myself, also I don't think like most Jedi. Raised Echani, learning on the streets of this planet hence the connections, being trained by Mandalorians and now with the Jedi all in twenty-five years."

Continuing I said, "As for breaking people I can't say I'm fond of it. I'll do so but only if there's reason, the dogma is what makes me different from them. It keeps me out of the pits of animals, dogma or no Jedi, Sith, spacers, crime-lords, the whole lot we're all only as effective as our imagination and willingness to do things allow us to be. Your willingness to break people and leave a bloody pulp is effective. My restraint and willingness to do what is needed spreads tale of what will happen or not to those that didn't listen, being Jedi has its time and place so does being an assassin or smuggler. Galaxy keeps spinning either way James. By the way, no you can't have her for the Angels' Den she has a job here. Besides if she didn't understand the question you posed about drinking records then she won't belong there."

Just then the waitress returned with James' bottle of lum, the top-shelf bottle of Hellfire whiskey, and my tea. Smiling at me the waitress asked, "Miss are you ready to order?" Smiling at her I said, "Yes sugar I am, I'll have the Mongolian beef stir-fry with fried rice as well as an order of you egg-rolls, crab rangoons, and a large bowl of Hot and sour soup to share. He'll have the General Tso's chicken with the chow mein." I gave James a look that said shut-it I knew he didn't like following orders or listening to anyone but himself but if he tried to convince this girl to work for his I'd make sure never to buy alcohol for him again.

The young woman nodded and walked back away to get our order in. Looking at James I said, "Now then before you start in with the bottle of lum have a glass of this I'm keeping this bottle but I've another to send home with you to Soceras." Pouring us each a glass of the whiskey I clinked my glass against his and said, "To differeing views on life, politics, and how to conduct ourselves, and to a continued working relationship as friends and those we love and have lost." Taking a sip I let out a moan at the smoothness of the sinfully sweet cinnamon and smoothness of the burn in the alcohol. Gods and Goddesses I loved this particular alcohol!

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

"There are effective ways of dealing with a problem, then there is every frelling thing else," James said waving his hand through the air. "Ye've been in this business a while. No doubt about that. Ye've seen the underbelly of society, the deep, dark parts that haunt ye in the worst times of the night. Ye've seen the cool, cold look in some people's eye. Some people, some things dun't wanna be saved. Some things are just damned that way. And ye know as well as I do, that some beings just want to hurt people. Jedi dun't take conclusive action to fix the problem, same as their security. Same reasons--they are too damn soft.

"Aye, its all got its place. Every gear in a machine is important, ain't gonna deny that, but some gears give more fething horse power than others," he shrugged, "Just the nature of the beast. Asides, I'd pay her at least five times what they pay her 'ere. Ain't nothin' wrong with that."

He was a crime lord, not a monster. At least--not that kind of monster. He scowled and furrowed his brow. He shot Cel a look with a clear message; ye'll regret that later. I promise ye. He listened to her toast and--well kinda got distracted in mid sentence by a passing woman with a tight-fitting skirt in the right places.

"To booze and women," he proclaimed before swallowing the contents. He grabbed the bottle of Lum and didn't bother with the glass, he took a pull strait from the bottle, "Enough politics and religion! Ye ever think about starting a family?"

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

James' views of the Jedi at large were largely correct, though there were a few like me who would do what was necessary even if it didn't line up perfectly with the code. I did the things most Jedi wouldn't but he was largely correct. He proposed a toast of all things to booze and women. I didn't feel as though that was worth toasting but I indulged him. Then he asked a question that startled me "Ye ever think about starting a family?"

I could feel it I was blushing at the thought of that. "Honestly it hadn't ever been at the forefront of my mind, that being said I've a woman I love and sometime soon I plan on proposing to her. Just never seemed the right time with being shot at, chased, attacked by Sith and Sithspawn... But yes, yes I've definitely thought about it...Now though I've the motivation to go about making it happen."

Just then the Mirialan waitress came back and set our food on the table and with a short bow walked away. Oh Gods and Goddesses! It looked and smelled amazing, grabbing a pair of Hashi chopsticks I began to go about eating my food as James digested my answer to his question...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

If there were two things ever worth toasting to, it was booze and women. They were the best things that existed in the galaxy, and they both knew it. Or, at least, James was ready to say he knew it. Several gulps later, the bottle hit the table with a satisfying crack.

James chuckled at her description of her relationship with Aria. He could relate. Most of the time when he was in a relationship--and not a fling, but a real relationship. His time with Nyx had really been that way. Those were good times. He found it almost as amusing was that she blushed at the question. He smirked. It was fairly standard, wasn't it? People thought about that kind of thing. And they talked about it--didn't they?

"To be honest, this sort of thing ain't easy for me," he said turning his bottle over and looking at it. "I usually dun't get asked to just dinner for dinner's sake. Someone always wants somethin'; money. Power. Support. Strength of arms. Somethin'. A war. Me to either kill someone or take a bounty off someone else. Its a dirty business being rich and powerful. Leaves ye lonely. Small talk be a skill I lost a long while back."

The food came and he started to dig into it with his fork. He wasn't about to use chopsticks. He wasn't that dexterous and besides that, he was too hungry to try and find out if he was or not.

"There be a lot of good orphans out there," he said chewing on a bit of the meat he had been ordered to eat. It didn't taste as good as it would have if he had ordered it. Funny how that worked. "Constant war tends to do that, ye know. I made more than my fair share," he said with a grim frown, "But 'asides that I've set up orphanages for a lot of em. But they need families. They need a chance to have a mum's touch." He shot her a glance before taking a pull from his alcohol, "Just something to think about."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Taking a bite of my food I listened and chewed thoughtfully, as James finished his bit I took a sip of my tea and said, "Indeed, that's actually the reason I gave working with you a shot. I'd heard about you being a crime-lord but what intrigued me was the orphanages and actually caring even though you can leave a bloody mess behind you. As for the bit of Jedi not being hard enough or doing enough, also part of the reason I wanted to give working with you a shot. I wanted to ask you about starting a business of my own part club and dining establishment but funding a shelter for women. My past before I trained under the Mandalorians was...unpleasant for a young woman. Also the main reason I left a mess of the contracts I took here on Coruscant. Tying up loose ends as it were on my past."

Taking another few bites of food and sipping a bit more tea I swallowed before continuing. Looking at James with seriousness in my eyes I said, "James, the Angels' Den is along the lines of what I want to do except I don't want the whole seedy gangster side. I do however need somebody who knows how to start up a club and dining establishment, the shelter for women has been a dream of mine for some time due to my past... As for the child needing a Mother's touch, well that's why I'm trying to make connections and allies now. Why I want to do things right with Aria, because someday I may decide to leave the Jedi and right now I'm planning my exit strategy for the time when I can have a family. As to the whole dinner for the sake of it... I won't lie, I planned on talking with you about these possibilities but I also believe in treating everyone including crime-lords to dinner after a job well done. It's proper courtesy, and while you and I both have done some...less than savory things courtesy, honor, and respect are what set us apart."

I could overlook the drinking, the smoking, hell even the things I'd seen James do and helped him to do today. I knew that even before I'd started working with him James had a good heart. Gangsters that did what James did and helped to fund, support, and begin orphanages and relief efforts...They were practically non-existant and that more than anything is why I'd started working with him. Because while he was a gangster, murderer, and crime-lord beneath it all he cared. He was very much a dark man, but he wasn't evil for the sake of it he was darkness when he had to be hard.

I continued eating and popped one of the egg-rolls into my mouth I bit down and crunched into it, chewing it thoughtfully. I did hope that one day I'd be able to have a family with Aria, before that I hoped to propose to her and make that moment the most magical, romantic and sensual experience possible for her. Now I was beginning to accumulate wealth at a rate unheard of for a padawan due largely to the fact that I did unsavory things like smuggling, theft, assassination, bounty hunting, and working with crime-lords. I'd decided early on that I wouldn't smuggle drugs, or interspecies cargo. I wouldn't be responsible for ruining others lives that way. I did smuggle people away from extremely bad situations, and I definitely supplied arms to certain factions...But like James I didn't make those choices jsut for the sake of them.

I am still a blade of light in the deafening darkness and I'd keep fighting to be that person. Finishing the egg-roll I set my Hashi chopsticks down and picked up a spoon for the soup. Pouring myself a bowl I began eating my soup waiting to hear what James had to say...

[member="James Justice"]