Ace of Staves

[Sal Katarn]

Sal Katarn squinted at the list for one long moment, then shrugged and entered his bid. He felt an uncomfortable knot in his gut as he watched the funds drain from his account. He grunted. Well, too late to ask for a refund now. He leaned back in his seat and ran calloused fingers through greasy locks.

He glanced at Ka, his shrike, who sat on a post and stared at him with predatory yellow eyes.

"Nothin' for it now but to -"

A blinking red box appeared on the screen, along with a set of instructions on how to upload the required video file. Something about explaining likes and dislikes and whatnot.

Video file? Great

Katarn stared at the screen. Well, he had already dumped all the money into it. The thing had been pretty explicit that there were no refunds. There were also a lot of rules for a glorified hooker service. He supposed the richer you got the stranger your inclinations became.

"Mm."

Nostrils flared, then he shook his head and started to set up the cam. He could feel Ka's eyes on him, judging. After a moment, Sal clicked record.

"Uh... I'm Sal Katarn. Used to herd nerf. Work security now." His drawl rasped out, as if someone had taken sandpaper to his vocal chords, which would not be far off from the truth.

"Got a bird."

The camera turned to focus on the shrike, then back to Katarn's sunbaked scruff.

"Don't much like to talk... Partial to blondes."

He glanced over at Ka. Good enough? Good enough. He shut the recording off and uploaded it, wondering if this would just be a waste of time and money.

[member="Saffron"]

 

[Saffron]

​

​

The holographic recording paused, [member="Sal Katarn"] 's face frozen in that distinct half scowl that was more equivocal than distressing. Most Companions would have given Mister Katarn a few more seconds of observation before moving on, but Saffron was intrigued. There was a story you see. He might have not said it in aloud, but it was there.

A man of few words. Terse. With weathered dark skin that had seen more days out in the sun than most. Reminded her a bit of folk back on Tatooine. Spoke of a man who worked for a living. Maybe with his hands? His face was all hard angles and deep set valleys, from the high cheekbones and that gold dusted skin that sank under a thick peppered beard. To the tousled mop of dirty blonde hair that glinted with silver at the temples. Yet it was his eyes -- Aye, it was the vibrancy in those green eyes that told a tale to the Companion that there was more to see. More to learn.

"A bird now is it?" she murmured quietly, amused that he would take the time to introduce the Shrike. Now a days Saffron rarely took clients. Most of her time was spent overseeing PharmaTech, Mara Tibx, or Aurum Saacs Bank. However, her true calling had always been in Companion work. So from time to time, the young blonde would take a cup of peppermint tea and quietly review the Guild Registry.

There were souls out there who were in need. In need of companionship and just a quiet interlude. Being naturally empathic and enhancing it through the Force allowed the young woman to provide a means of a helpful ear. Saffron searched for compatibility of spirit. In her mind, there’s an energy about a person that’s was difficult to hide.

So it was without further ado that the young companion brought up Mister Katarn's information up to her holoscreen. Her comm wave would fly the distance across the 'verse towards the Bounty Hunter's holocomm, seeking a conversation to discern if they should move forward and meet.

Perhaps it wasn't such a bad investment after all.

 

[Sal Katarn]

The smell of nerf steak sent Ka's head bobbing in the way only birds' heads could bob. Sal watched tossed a glance the shrike's way as he pulled the grub out of the heater and carried the plate to the table. His stomach rumbled and it became hard to tell the avian's feelings from his own through their bond.

Katarn plopped down in a seat and carved off a slice. He tossed the strip to the bird, who snapped up the steaming meat hungrily.

Chewing, Sal thought on what the next play should be. Needed to load up on vittles. A wad of cash would be nice now, but bounty huntin' wasn't all it said on the ads. Most of the time the easy pickings were only worth a couple hundred a pop. Could pay for docking fees and a few weeks of supplies, but to make any headway, to keep a ship like this running? Had to haul in some bigger game.

Suddenly, Katarn's comm chirped. He squinted at it. Hm. Speak of the devil.

Picking up the commlink, he said, "Kchw-" then swallowed his food and tried again. "Katarn."

[member="Saffron"]

 

[Saffron]

[member="Sal Katarn"]

"Namaste, Mistah Katarn."

The voice on the other line would be cordial and pleasant. There was a slight rasp to it, a bit of a drawl wrapped in serenity. A pause followed, as if the woman whom the voice belonged to was waiting for a response.

Saffron had taken to sitting down upon a chaise that overlooked the wide expanse of Solarium Glasteel viewport. Around her were her collection of orchids and botanicals; she enjoyed watching over them and seeing them grow. There was even a Murakami orchid, a rare sight in this age save within the temple grounds of the scattered Guildhouses across the 'verse.

"It is Mistah Katarn, correct?" came the inquisitive whisper of an inquiry.

 

[Sal Katarn]

"Sal," he corrected.

Mister Katarn made him feel like sleazy old man.

Ka eyed the steak hungrily. Sal hunched over it and bared his teeth at the bird, who in turn let out a short screech and flapped his wings. Regular Rodian stand off.

He sliced off another bit of meat, gaze locked with the shrike, and chewed. The bird swooped in low in a flurry of feathers. Katarn stabbed down on the steak with a fork, pinning it to the plate. Not enough to stop the bird's beak from shearing half of the meat away. It flapped back to its perch and gobbled up the prize voraciously.

"Hm." He grunted.

"Who's this?"

[member="Saffron"]

 

[Saffron]

[member="Sal Katarn"]

Well, he was certainly rather gruff. Saffron mulled over the chance to be able to discuss with him over a holo properly. Have a one on one and be able to talk to him directly.

"My name is Saffron, of the Oiran Guildhouse." she answered in that mild-mannered tone of hers.

"I am responding to an inquiry you made within the Guild Registry." the soft silk of her sari whispered along her legs as she took a small walk to her garden.

"I hope I am not calling at an inopportune time. ?"

 

[Sal Katarn]

"No. Just eating."

...

Sal stopped eating.

Saffron? Well now, seemed he hadn't run out of luck just yet.

The bird looked at him, then at the meat. Katarn grimaced in defeat and leaned back in the chair. Ka took no time swooping in and gulping down the rest of the steak.

"What can I do for you?"

[member="Saffron"]

 

[Saffron]

[member="Sal Katarn"]

Now Saffron was concerned. It was terrible to really pick up on emotions and connotation through a holocall. The Companion did her best through visual and tactile methods of communication. The woman came to a pause before the viewport, observing the distant sun through the Solarium glasteel.

"Well, I apologize for any inconvenience I may have on your meal." she began, her voice keeping to a melodic pattern in her speech. "I can always holowave at another time."

 

[Sal Katarn]

"No intrusion."

Katarn ran a hand through lank strands of greasy blond hair.

"You usually call clients?"

[member="Saffron"]