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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 2, 2015 21:56:26 GMT -5
Kara had an absolutely flat expression. There was no pretense on it. No feigned sadness, no real sadness, no anger, no pleasure. The concept of dumping the body was not inspiring any kind of emotion. Certainly not satisfaction. The look in her eyes was simply blank.
"I don't really care," The Togruta replied.
Torve was off her back, that was as far as she cared. In fact it'd have been more convenient if he hadn't returned for the final insult at all. But he hadn't stayed away, now he was dead, and to be honest she simply wanted to move on. Not roll around in a vain celebration.
"He's dead, he's not getting any more dead by me dumping the body. I'd rather find a better use of my time."
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 3, 2015 6:47:43 GMT -5
It took every ounce of self-control for Bax not to answer Kara's last remark with 'Like fucking me, right now?' What she said wasn't snide per se, but something about her attitude shift just irked him to no end. Felt like dealing with a rude house guest or unpleasable customer. The junker had a tendency to lean towards casual indifference, but this just felt ungrateful.
"Fine. Whatever." Bax stated under his breath, while smashing the button with a light sneer on his face.
With that done he started to slowly stroll back towards the helm, and casually started to unzip himself from his suit. By the time Bax reached his chair he had retied the sleeves around his waist like before. Once seated one hand flew over the nearby Nav computer, and the other tugged on the steering controls to shift their course.
"I have business on Nal Hutta, any objection to me dropping you off there?"
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 3, 2015 8:15:48 GMT -5
Kara followed Bax up towards the flight deck, the soft soles of her boots noiseless on the deckplate. The look on his face, the under the breath muttering she'd heard perfectly well, it was clear he was still pissy. Her eyes rolled up to the ceiling briefly. This entire waylaid incident had been unwanted and bothersome, and she sincerely, deeply, and genuinely wished he wouldn't be so dramatic about that. He wasn't the one who'd been stuck in a damned escape pod. It was definitely exasperating, and as the junker looked at the nav computer and proposed a destination, Sikaara didn't dispute it.
"That's as good as anywhere else."
The Togruta's arms folded over her breast and she looked at the display, pondering how to most effectively make due on Nal Hutta. Swamps weren't precisely her favorite, but it would be very, very nice to stay on a planet for a while with actual air.
Interim, the question was how to make this go better. A little persuasion would help.
Sikaara's gloved hands reached very gently to the shoulders and neck of the seated man, and she provided a massage. Slowly, so as to avoid making him think she was trying to strangle him. That wasn't remotely on her agenda, too risky. A little buttering up though, that'd fix things.
"Sorry that we got off on the wrong foot," She said softly, "I really am grateful."
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 3, 2015 9:45:53 GMT -5
In his rush to start the trip, and the countdown until he and the togruta could part ways, Bax had forgotten about his effort to keep her in his view. Panic shot through him instantly after feeling her leather clad hands lay against his shoulders. For a split second the junker thought his life was over, after his usefulness to Kara had come to an end.
Knowing there was no way he draw his blaster, or do quickly anything else to stop his murder, Bax closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to watch it in his viewpoint reflection. As soon as the tension built up during this certain crisis started to dissolve with a skillful massage, the junker basically melted into the chair in relieved bliss.
"Don't mention it. I'm just glad I was at the right place at the right time." Bax said in a smooth, relaxed voice, while keeping his eyes closed. "You're amazing at this...."
"Just being honest, I thought you were going to kill me for a second. I don't think we trust each other that well yet, but I'd like to get to that point." He stated, still in a near trance of ecstacy under her grip
It was only the returned urgency of business in the back on his mind that made Bax open his eyes and lean forward to flip on the hyperdrive. After watching the stars elongate and blur around them, the junker fell back into his chair to keep enjoying Kara's company.
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 3, 2015 10:02:10 GMT -5
The edges of Sikaara's lips turned up in a smile. Not of compassionate mirth or shared humor, but of the way he'd so clearly panicked at that touch. It was easy to forget for most humans just how keen her senses were. The ripple of fear had produced tangible things for her. The scent of his emotion, the racing heartbeat she could hear so keenly. It was amusing, and even as her nimble fingers worked the knots out of the muscles, she couldn't resist the chance to toy with him just a little.
"This would be a bad way to kill you," She purred like an especially contented feline. "Hands aren't as effective. I'd just be very careful not to let me kiss your neck..."
As she emphasized the last word, her index finger traced the length of the carotid artery expertly. She flashed a much toothier grin and gave a soft chuckle.
"Not that I would. I really don't have anything to gain from it. In fact, I've got a great incentive to make sure you're as comfortable as possible." The Togruta drew close enough for her hot breath to touch on the human's ear as she whispered. The heavier the promise of indiscretion lay in the air, the better.
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 3, 2015 10:29:42 GMT -5
In his stage of massage induced nirvana, Bax was more relaxed than he'd been during his last long trip to Zetros, yet Kara's seductive words made his primal urges rise to a new level. Not just typical lust either, but a strange sense of looming danger. The sensual sound of her voice and the carress of his neck made the junker feel like he was being looked over by some deadly predator in the night. A chill unintentionally ran up his spine at just how accurate that was describing his Togruta friend.
Bax prepared to say something, but stopped short after her breath hit his ear. Gathering his resolve again, he little cleared his throat before finally voicing his mind. "You have no incentive now, but I have a strange sense of foreboding. My gut tells me that you're trouble incarnate, and deep down I know it's probably true. I don't see it ending well for me if the situation comes down to you or me..."
"But, ask me if I care right now." Bax stated with a wide smirk and low chuckle. As stupid as his logic was for still pursuiting Kara at this point, he still believed she could understand his decision. The junker also hoped calling her out like this wouldn't kill the mood too badly...
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 3, 2015 21:00:02 GMT -5
It was actually very gratifying. Bax had been trying to play games, keeping things close to his chest from the first moment he'd opened the pod. Admittedly she had as well, but now they'd reached a point where they had an understanding. That was the game now. Not of trying to masquerade as a role the way she so often did, but simply a sly tango danced by two people who had both been around the block before. The lack of pretense was very, very soothing. In this at least they had an understanding. This was partnership of expediency only, not some idealistic collaboration or alliance.
"You know how ravens and crows were seen as signs of doom and death?" Sikaara asked in an apparent non-sequitur, still massaging. "They scavenge, usually on carrion. They were associated with it. The bird can't help how it's associated. Do I purposefully cause trouble? No, but I'll get out of whatever problem arises. I'm in this for myself. I expect no different from anyone else. That's all."
It was somewhat self-serving but not particularly inaccurate. By reinforced patterns, this was simply the way Sikaara was. Lying, cheating, stealing, none of it mattered as long as it kept her in a good position.
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 3, 2015 21:27:13 GMT -5
Bax didn't think it was possible, but after truly cutting through the smoke and mirrors between him and his togruta friend, he felt even better than he did when the massage started. He had pretty much known about Kara's games and the like since she first put on her cold, pitiful look, yet having it said out in the open somehow seemed to diminish the threat seemkngly looming in the air.
"I guess you can say we're birds of a feather, right?" Bax stated with a wide grin, before parting it to let out a good laugh at his own corny pun.
"I'm a salvager by trade, so I literally strip the dead for what I need ,or just plain want sometimes. Your pod was just the next piece of carrion on my plate. Gotta say though, I found someone much fresher and supple than I thought I would in there."
With that said Bax slowly rose from his seat, still trying to enjoy a few more tender caresses, then walked over to the counter still loaded with Food packs scattered around. After pushing aside a stack of the freeze dried garbage, the junker rummaged in a cluttered cabinet. When he emerged he held an intricate bottle and two lowball glasses.
"Care for a glass? It's top shelf wine from Serenno. Another thing I nicked from a corpse."
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 4, 2015 9:06:03 GMT -5
Sikaara followed Bax to the counter, a few steps behind. Her gaze fell to the freeze-dried food, and she stifled a gag. The analogy to a carrion bird was growing with Bax, but Sikaara would have preferred trying a piece of dead flesh left in the sun over this packaged monstrosity. Fortunately, Bax's hand didn't reach for one, only pushing it out of the way. He didn't produce a steak, but he did take out a bottle of wine. That was agreeable. How precisely he took it off a corpse was perfectly fine left unspoken. But somehow... She doubted he had put the corpse there directly. It was like he said, he was the scavenger. He didn't have that predatory streak. But of course a scavenger could be just as deadly under the right circumstances.
"It would be a pleasure," Sikaara replied, resting on the edge of the counter.
For a moment she instinctively tried to find the best way to persuade him into providing any better food, and then she had to remind herself of this new direct policy. It was simply better to ask.
"I don't suppose you have a proper meal in mind, to match the wine? One of the downsides to my species, we have a fast metabolism."
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 4, 2015 10:01:51 GMT -5
With Kara's blessing Bax unwrapped the bottle's foil seal of authenticity and removed the stopper, but held off on pouring it quite yet. Customer complaints back at the Drunken Dianoga had taught him the importance of letting a fine vintage breath first. Unfortunately, after a quick check through the cabinet next to him, the junker realized he didn't have a pitcher to decant it in.
When his Togruta friend raised another question directed at the food situation Bax gave up the search, then went ahead and poured the reddish amber liquid into the two glasses.
"Not sure what fruit they used to make this, off the top of my head, but we should let it breath a bit. Fully bring out the flavor." The junker explained with a grin, while he sat Kara's glass next to her.
"As for the food, I'll see what I can scrounge up...." Bax stated under his breath, while trying to think of what he had that wasn't freeze dried or had a couple years worth of mold on it. A moment later recollection and joy played across his face, after realized he had the perfect thing for his predatory friend.
Jogging back to the holding area, the junker went to an old chilling unit,originally used for housing blood and the like at an antiquated hospital, and opened it to look inside. Immediately he found what he was looking for, and exposed the bucket of fried nuna to room temperature once more.
"I bought this a few days back on Mon Calamari, it should still be good. I'd honestly forgotten about it, probably would've molded by the time I found it again by accident." Bax stated to Kara, once he returned with the 3/4 full food container.
"Do you prefer it warm or cold, the reheating unit is by your head on the left of you'd like the former better."
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 5, 2015 10:50:08 GMT -5
It was definitely not the best meal she'd been offered. Over the course of her wanderings she'd had caviar and brandy, perfectly rare bantha burgers, but rarely a fine Serenno wine with a bucket of leftover fried nuna. It was like serving a ration pack on a fine silver platter, or putting a frame of ultrachrome wrought with jewels around stick figure drawn on paper. In short, it was surreal. However, it was vastly superior to the freeze-dried chewy meat. Sikaara plucked an especially large piece out of the bucket, answering as she did so.
"Cold is perfectly fine."
Her teeth sank into the crispy outer layer, cutting through it like a hot knife through butter, and she ate the piece down with what was by no estimation good table manners. However, they were both being honest now, or as honest as people like themselves could be. And besides that, it was tiresome dealing with human 'table manners.' Simply because the smaller bones were inedible to humans didn't mean everyone else had to play by the same set of rules.
It still had flavor. It was greasy yes, but there was no question about what it was. That alone was refreshing, and only after the piece was reduced to one large central bone did the Togruta set it down and turn to the glass, sipping the proffered beverage perfectly politely.
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 5, 2015 11:19:26 GMT -5
Bax was more happy with Kara's decision on the temperature of the Nuna than she'd ever realize. After he'd made the offer the junker near instantaneously remembered the reheater was in fact broken. Besides the low price tag, that was the main reason he'd bought so damn many food packs. Without a stove or a reheater it was the best he could manage, until he either stopped procrastinating from fixing it or he found another one.
At the risk of coming between a togruta and her meal, Bax reached into the bucket and pulled out a sizable leg. After the first bite he had to admit the bird probably tasted better cold like this. To him the congealed grease added a tasty, and obviously horriblly unhealthy, coating when at this temperature.
Having the first few morsels hit his stomach awoke a hunger the junker didn't know he had been holding back. He tore the meat from the bone with ravenous furiousity, but compared to Kara he might as well have been gumming his meal. Her assault on the bird was so thorough and fast it was like she thought it would run away if she slowed down for a second.
"Cheers." Bax stated with a smirk, as he joined the togruta in trying the wine. The liquid was exquisite, but he had to admit it probably would've been even better if their teeth weren't coated in grease.
"Don't slow down on my account, but I'm kind of curious where you met the ugly guy and the smart in the first place." The junker asked, after laying aside the bone from his own first piece.
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 5, 2015 11:33:20 GMT -5
"Long story," Sikaara replied slightly dismissively. The problem was that since leaving Shili her life had been mostly a series of blending, blurring events punctuated by surprisingly pleasant periods spent on pleasant 'wild' areas. The time away from society was what Sikaara considered a recharge time, one she was about due for in fact, but Torve and Kandon had been merely one more in a sequence of events twisting and spiraling like a leaf fluttering in a gust of wind. Even trying to explain the precursors to the partnership would have been tedious. It was best to keep it short.
"The short version is we were all supposedly headed to Nar Kaaga, the actuality is I was headed anywhere. Kandon was agreeable, Torve obviously just wanted to be in my pants. Either way I started with a free ride and was upgraded to the profits off a spice shipment until my plan fell through."
It wasn't the most self-serving narrative she could've given. But then again, if she'd claimed the spice profits were to fund an orphanage for the next two years would Bax have believed her? It was very unlikely.
The Togruta eyed the dark liquid in her glass before sipping it slowly again.
"Now how about yourself. I doubt you always collected junk."
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Mr. Slender
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Post by Mr. Slender on Mar 5, 2015 17:38:40 GMT -5
"I see." Bax replied, between chews on the first bite from his next piece of nuna. In the back of his head he couldn't help but draw parallels between he and Kara's travel situation, and the one with Torve and the other guy. The junker also got a kick out of the fact he was playing the role of both men, for being both agreeable and wanting to get in Kara's pants by the end of this.
Instead of being shocked or frightened for his own safety after hearing the cause for Kara's attempted backstab, Bax just had to chuckle a bit at how careless her previous company had been. He didn't believe in voluntarily letting anyone onboard The Drifter, but even if he did, there was no way he'd tell anyone about the more rare or expensive items he had around.
It'd be bad for business, and plus you never know when you might run into someone just like Kara.
"My story's not so much long, but uninteresting for the most part.I'll spare you what I can." Bax replied in a matter of fact tone, before taking a long sip of wine to wash down the grease.
"I've only been a freelance Junker for about a year now, before that I actually worked for the Imperial Center Sanitation Department for ten years. I originally came to Coruscant to join the Imperial Navy with my brother, but he moved on to commanding a Star Destroyer and I started disposing of trash. Before that I worked at my family's night club since I was born. To be honest, I kind of miss it." He admitted with a slight sigh. Overall his life didnt ever seem like it'd been that boring until he stated it out loud.
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Post by Grand Moff Poobah I on Mar 5, 2015 20:54:54 GMT -5
Sikaara would have raised an eyebrow if she had any. Somehow Bax didn't seem like the Imperial type to her. Then again she'd been biased against the Empire ever since her final years on Shili. It was even odds maybe, but her gut still told her he was the blacksheep. That was why he was scavenging garbage while his brother had a command. However by the same token, that was a little disconcerting. It was far more Empire connection than she liked to be around, especially when being honest. The truth cut a little too much against her where the Empire was concerned...
She picked up another piece of meat to chew on while he talked, which aided in masking any facial tells. Best to look perfectly relaxed.
The nightclub was the part to seize on.
After she swallowed, the Togruta spoke up.
"Not many people choose junk over a nightclub, unusual decision."
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