Barren lands and evil men.

[Kayanna Djo]

​

Nar Shaddaa​

​

The word tasted like venom in her mouth. The curl of the tongue, the way it almost hissed in utterance. Nar Shhhhhhadda. Though she was taught to respect the ways of the jungle, of the land that existed between the falls and mountain tops, she couldn't break from the cultural stigma. The Witches of Dathomir saw the snake as a fruitful beast, consuming as all of nature did. But the rotten apple spoiled and with it, everything else. Gleaming eyes, reflective of bright oceans that were filled with purpose, looked down on the metropolis with nothing but contempt.

Criminals.

Smuuglers.

Scum.

She was getting the hang of the vessel, despite herself. Despite her upbringing, where she was taught to be weary in regard to technology, she knew the utility in such when searching out vengeful path. The universe was dark, this helped to illuminate things. Her father saw to that.

Cutting through the atmosphere, a swift blade through clouds of phosphorous and sickly orange, the lights of the city lit up the screen. She leaned forward, out of her seat, as her eyes set upon the wonders that her father spoke of. Of miracles, glittering neon lights of all colors, and noise that could be heard even from the zenith of the planets orbit. She had to fight the urge for awe, knowing that her purpose here was a dark as the world's underbelly. A matter of intelligence, of a clue within her fathers ship towards the identity of his killer, guided her wrathful hands.

The Burning Deck. Three weeks from yesterday. Be there or suffer the consequences.

Those were the words that burned blue across an unlocked data pad, charging know on a docking station. Words that she repeated, in fear that she might forget or the datapad might fall to corruption. She might forget them with all the other things that were left behind. Tears and a burning tree, signalling smoke in the nights sky.

The ship turned, nearly of its own volition, as it cut towards the landing pad in cue with correspondence. As the clamps set in, cold steel against tracer lights that circled the designated area, she moved out from the ramp. A man stood. Not a slave or puppet, thing used for procreation and nothing else. A burly figure, one who had hungry eyes.

"Going to need information for your stay."
"The Burning Deck." She stated, dismissively, as she found trouble in breaking from the older ways.
"Uhh...yeah. What about it?"
"That's where I'm heading. Do you intend to stop me?" Glaciers formed across vibrant eyes, shifting to sink the figure who halted her progress.
"Uhm, no? I just need ship information. We can get it while you're parked. You're free to head up. It's...uhh...over there." He waved his hand, though it was more like a small bird fluttering.

Nodding with searching eyes, she moved forward with a hand on the short sword that rested across the small of her back. Eyes that moved towards the horizon, towards the path that laid before her. Her mind was overtaken with the mission ahead as her lungs adjusted to the haze and pollution of Nar Shhhhhhadda.

[member="Maiev"]​

 

[Maiev]

It hadn't been even two hours since Maiev had parted ways with [member="Myn Eris"], the pair having managed to escape the facility. And the witch was tempted to return to it, just so she could get away from the stench. In there everything was clean and filtered, the complete opposite to the smog that seemed eternal on Nar Shaddaa.

And that wasn't accounting for the filth that littered the streets, and she wasn't just talking about actual trash.

Nar Shaddaa. Coruscant. Any of the big city planets were low on Maiev's list to visit frequently.

There was something about how industrial everything was that irked Maiev. Especially considering they had eventually eclipsed the entire planet. Leaving not even a speck of its original nature in reach. Sure, Coruscant was much better than the Demon Moon, the latter being full of all manner of lowlifes no matter what level you were on. Whereas Coruscant at least hid it until you hit the Undercity.

Coming to such a place was borne from necessity, her initial intention was to meet a contact; to follow a potential lead on a Sith cult making use of the smuggling routes. However she had been knocked out before ever reaching the meeting point, and that had been almost two days ago. If her contact was still around she'd be surprised.

Frankly Maiev was equally surprised she hadn't just left the planet already. But she still held some hope that she could still pick up the thread and find at least something that guided her to the next one.

Maybe if Kalax was awake she'd be able to offer some advice, but the spirit had returned to 'sleep'. Apparently she had been trying to re-establish their connection while in the facility, even though it had been a fruitless effort until near the end.

It meant Maiev was left to herself, walking the streets with the hood of her jacket pulled over her head. She had managed to reclaim her previously stolen daggers, the two Dathomirian blades resting on her belt.

Now what was the meeting point called...

Maiev trekked on, slowly recollecting her surroundings and returning back on the course she had been days ago.

Towards The Burning Deck.

[member="Kayanna Djo"]​

 

[Kayanna Djo]

A chirp startled her as she moved through the arena of colors and sounds. Abrasive, almost to the point of assuming intentional, she lingered over towards a patron and the thing that stood before her. Lights and figures, cascading down an internal carousel, stopping at the pull of a lever by the woman of grey hair and wrinkled skin. The elder slammed her fist down angrily on the table below her as she inserted another credit and pulled the lever. All around Anna, this occurred ad nausea, as she was reminded of stories told by her father.

In certain places, people throw away their fortunes, at the chance of obtaining something greater.
But why?
Because they are missing something else in their life, something that would make them whole.
And they look to fill it with fortunes?
They think it will fill it. But it won't. That's what family is for.

She clenched her teeth, visage producing a glare, as she recalled this memory and what she had lost. She looked around, giving off the tell-tale signs of someone being lost. But she wasn't lost, at least not spiritually. Inwardly, her eyes focused on a singular purpose for vengeance and reckoning. To obtain power, to obtain information, the two co-aligned. One would come with the other, she told herself. But she was impatient, intent on forcing information without the true power to extract it.

Ahead, eyes drifted over a long sign of orange neons and faux flames. The Burning Deck. Approaching with a cautious expression, she placed fingers on the hostess podium.

"I'm looking for someone."
"Aren't we all, darling." The brunette smiled as she flashed some menu's. "How many of you, this evening?"
"Just one." She stated with a wandering gaze, unsure of the question be asked.
"Running stag I see. Good for you, you'll do well. Follow me." She fanned the menu for Anna to follow.

And so she did.

[member="Maiev"]​

 

[Maiev]

For the most part Maiev was use to the constant racket made by planets like Nar Shaddaa. The witch had been exploring the galaxy long enough that she was familiar with the various sights she stumbled across.

Whether it was a drunken fool stumbling down the street, or an 'unfortunate soul' cursing the name of one casino or another for gobbling up all their credits.

Albeit those were much lesser evil, Maiev would much rather deal with a potential headache than stumbling into some type of criminal activity that was a consistant presence on the Smuggler's Moon. If she had been more naive, the type to stick her nose into something that wasn't her business, she would've no doubt gotten in the middle of it before she thought better of it.

Maiev eventually found herself in the establishment, carving a path through the crowd like any other potential customer. Although she had no intention of being pulled into the downward spiral of gambling.

She peered around slightly, seeing and hearing all the mechnical whines and whirls of the various machines. A vast majority of them were occupied, and not one of them looked particularly pleased with their fortune, or the lack of specifically.

The witch's focus was ahead of her, where a long orange sign hung above a door. Neon lights flickering like the flames illustrated alongside it. She stepped on through into The Burning Deck

"Welcome to The Burning Deck, dining for one this evening?"

"I was actually here to meet someone, a 'Mister Cavanos'."

"Ah." The brunette paused as she turned to the console built into the hostess podium, a quick flick of her hands later she looked back at Maiev. "Well, I'm afraid to say Mister Cavanos was here two days ago..."

"Yeah, my arrival was uh...delayed." Maiev chucked sheepishly, mostly an act but still feeling somewhat foolish nonetheless. "I don't suppose he left anything for me?" Again the hostess fell back into her own little world as she checked her terminal.

"It seems he did, paid quite a sum of credits to ensure we passed it on." There was a certain look in the woman's eyes as she said that. "I can have someone bring it to you, if you are intending to dine?"

Maiev looked around slightly, before nodding to the hostess.

"Wonderful, if you would follow me."

And she did, her gaze lingering over the current occupants as she was led to her table.

[member="Kayanna Djo"]​

 

[Kayanna Djo]

Sparkling cerulean looked over the datapad, flicking through the various menu items. There were hundreds of pages, thousands of items, allowing for delivery from all over the city and planet. The Burning Deck seemed to be more hub than actual deck, by Anna's assumptions. People moved through the locale with ease, some upstanding and others far removed.

She spotted a man in a suit of glistening red, black spectacles covering his eyes and a distinct odor of fermented wine.

She spotted a woman, curve in form and broad of chest. She moved and with her, every eye in the room, as she swaggered from the front of the deck to the back. To rooms that shut behind her.

She spotted children running across the entrance, tripping a man as he moved by, before stealing what appeared to be an ornamental cane. She watched as he struggled to get up.

She spotted a woman. Talking to the hostess. And overheard a name and a denial of the persons presence. She felt her face flush red, steam rising from pale skin. Standing up, nearly slamming her tablet on the table, she caught the hostess as she was departing from the assigned table. Fingers clenching around her forearm, she caught the look of surprise in the hostess before speaking.

"He's not here?"
"Who?!?"
"Mister Cavanos!"
"No!"
"Where is he?"
"I can't tell you." She tried to pull her arm free. "You're hurting me!"
"Why are you protecting him?!"
"If you don't let go, I'll get the guards."

Anna looked towards the door, teeth clenched, as she spotted the large men with large shoulders and large fists. Grimacing, Anna released her grip and the hostess retracted her hand, rubbing the raised print of a hand.

"You get one warning. Next time, you'll get the boot."
"I don't need boots. I have my own."
"No, I mean-"
"I know what you meant."

The hostesses expression changed from one of anger to bewilderment to something else entirely, encompassing a sly smile. "You know, I get off my shift at ten..."

Anna was already walking away, towards the table where [member="Maiev"] was sitting. Pressing her hands against the back of an empty chair, she inspected the woman with a slightly accusatory expression. "Do you know where Mister Cavanos is? I need to speak with him."

 

[Maiev]

Once she was seated at the table, Maiev began to flick through the datapad, looking up sparingly whenever someone walked passed or managed to catch her eye. Pretty much everything listed on the menu was appealing to the witch in some way, although that wasn't exactly surprising after her brief stay in the facility.

She shuddered at the reminder of the gruel she had been given, and had refused to even touch.

"Miss, I believe you have a delivery to pick up?" Maiev turned to see a man standing at the side of her table, clearly one of the waiters.

"That's me." She looked the waiter who simply stood there with his arms held behind his back.

It took a moment, but Maiev realized what the man was waiting for. She refrained from scowling as she reached into one of her pockets and handed over a small credit chit. The waiter took it with his right hand, slipping it into vest pocket before holding out his left that held a data chip.

"Are you ready to order?" He spoke without missing a beat after Maiev took the item.

"I'm still deciding, but I'll have a glass of water."

"Very well, I'll come back to ask again in a few minutes." With that the waiter gave her a polite nod of the head and was gone.

Maiev sighed and sank into her chair for a moment, eyes fixed on the data chip before she slipped it into the datapad. At this point she was fairly certain that whatever it contained was already known by those that worked in The Burning Deck.

However before she could get a chance read the information, she caught sight of someone approaching her table with quick strides. The witch opened her mouth to speak, but paused when she saw the look the other woman was giving her.

Why was she suddenly asking her about Cavanos? How did she even know the name? Because she likely overheard her speaking to the hostess.

But why? Probably nothing good, going by that look.

"I can't say I know the man that much, but why are you looking for him?" There was something else, something familiar about the woman. Not that Maiev personally recognized her, but rather there was a presence to her, one that reminded the witch of someone. She just couldn't place it.

[member="Kayanna Djo"]​

 

[Kayanna Djo]

She eyed the waiter with some zeal as he moved from the table, taking out her frustrations mentally on every worker in the facility. The man who served Maiev, he probably had information regarding the current location of Cavanos. The woman whom Anna had handled probably had the very same. Everyone in the whole Burning Deck knew where he was but no one was spilling!

Her gaze shifted back to the patron sitting at the table. She knew the individual. Not personally, but more in the way two species knew each other when meeting on a distant world. This wasn't where they belonged. Not with the apparent Dathomiri coursing through their blood.
Her eyes shifted, pools of deep blue turning into linear narrows of rushing tide, as she cast accusatory glances towards the woman. Perhaps that wasn't fair but for the uncontrolled and angry, everyone would get a serving. Whether it was physical altercation or a spattering of attitude, it was all the same.

"He has information that I need." She stated abruptly, leaning back as she crossed toned arms over her chest. Anna didn't belong here, not with her physique or her wear. For the former, she might make for a good mercenary or assassin, lurking in dens or in the dark shadows of Nar Shhhhhhadda. For the ladder, her outfit was two pieces away from serving as spectacle and potential allure as a roaming psychic or shaman. She was a pragmatist, she knew a fish out of water when she saw one. Especially when it stared her back in the mirror. "Though he seems to have things that many people need."

Cerulean orbs shifted to where the data chip found landing. Curiosity was returned with curiosity, though perhaps a bit more aggressively. "What did you need from him? Information as well?"

She wasn't entirely confident with her knowledge base in regards to technology. But based off what her dad had taught her, before his abrupt end, this item held something important.

[member="Maiev"]​

 

[Maiev]

After another moment it finally clicked as to why the woman struck that familiar chord.

She was a fellow Dathomirian, and now that the witch gave her another proper look, she practically screamed that fact. Whereas in comparison, Maiev could pass as any other regular Jane walking the streets.

It was something Maiev had changed not long after she had first left Dathomir. She had practically been holding a neon sign over her head, screaming out her naivety of the galaxy as a whole, to everyone around her.

The witch saw the same thing in the woman that was glaring at her. It revealed a couple things; mostly suspicions about Kayanna.

But Maiev's expression revealed none of that, remaining unfazed by the look she was getting.

"Information yes, that is his occupation after all." And he was the type of person you didn't want getting deep into your pockets, or his for that matter. Even from the little time she had spoken with him at this point, Cavanos struck her as someone who would take advantage of even the slightest thing if it was a benefit to him.

She looked down at the datapad finally, grey orbs flickering over the information, followed by a frown.

Seems you couldn't make our meeting, I missed seeing you darling. But I'm still feeling generous, so head down to the Red Light District for a little something. I promise it won't disappoint. - C

Generous. That was an immediate red flag in Maiev's mind. She could hear the man talking as though he was the one seated before her. That inevitably slip of the accent with that single word, indicating he wasn't saying everything. But Cavanos was the only one who had the information on the cult she was hunting.

Part of her wanted to just drop this whole thing and leave it alone. Although it would mean a potential dangerous Sith cult would be able to continue operating. That and after everything that happened the past two days, she wasn't about to drop this.

Maiev was stubborn like that.

"What's your name?" She asked, eyes flickering back to Kayanna as an idea came to her. "And what exactly is your grievance with Cavanos?"

[member="Kayanna Djo"]​

 

[Kayanna Djo]

"My grievance with Cavanos is that he currently is not here." She nearly spit the words, dripping with venom and hate for a man that she didn't know. And while she obviously was having issues with the man, it had nothing to truly to do with him or his gender. Implied in the garb and mannerisms, many Dathomiri women carried a measured form of condescension for the opposite sex. They were simply for mating and tending to the house, when they weren't running for their lives at the threat of being captured by another clan member. But Anna carried no such feelings, likely due to the oddity of her fathers involvement in her life and her mothers.

He was once a man of worth. Or so she had thought. How could he be worth anything, when he owed so much?

"I flew across the galaxy to find Cavanos, so that he could give me information concerning a ship captain with a scar." She lifted her hand, running from top of cheek down to the opposite clavicle. "One I gave him. One I intend to tear open until life flees from him." She was obviously irritated, eyes fixed with generalized frustration. It wasn't easy flying that living ship and it was made more difficult by the act of convincing it to land in a hub of villainy. Concern, that was warranted, was raised in terms of being stolen.

Letting out a hard breath, she ran her fingers over the blue markings across her forehead. Placing a firm hand on the back of the chair, she pulled it out as she sat down. No thought was paid towards asking if she could sit - it simply didn't occur to her. "Sorry. I wasn't my intent to be rude." She leaned forward, plopping her elbows against the table. Cradling her head in her hand, she ran the other through the coarse dreadlocks. "It's been a long trip from Dathomir." Eyes lifted from the table to the woman, adorned with a much cooler temperament than her own. "I'm Kayanna Djo."

[member="Maiev"]​

 

[Maiev]

Maiev raised an eyebrow in response to the sheer hate that was coming from the other woman. For a moment she wondered where it was coming from, though she recognized it was on a more personal level. Rather than being sourced from the typical attitude Dathomirian women were raised to have when it came men. Maiev never had that, nor did Kalax really instill that notion when teaching her.

It was simply something neither women thought was worthwhile, and was frankly pointless. Although it certainly didn't stop the clanswomen from trying to push the notion during the eight years Maiev spent in their care. Or rather, from the age when she could understand what was being spoken to her, amongst all the worshipping too. But the majority of what they had said went through one ear and out the other, nothing ever stuck just as Kalax had initially planned.

Build up an animosity to make it easier to convince a child to run away.

But that had been years ago at this point, plans and perspectives had shifted in that time. Even if one side of the partnership was oblivious to any of it.

She continued to listen to what Kayanna had to say, her initial suspicions of things being personal were proven true when the woman pointed out the scar. That would certainly be a reason for wanting to track down the culprit. Maiev looked at her curiously, suspecting further that it likely went deeper than just a physical altercation.

Once it seemed the woman had settled down; both literal and emotional, Maiev smiled at her.

"It's fine, I understand the frustration." She had certainly been in similar-ish situations, trying to track down a contact or lead. It also revealed that Kayanna had in fact come here straight from Dathomir. Although if Maiev wasn't mistaken, it looked as though the other witch was exhausted. "It's nice to meet you Kayanna, I'm Maiev."

At that point the waiter from before returned, placing the glass of water in front of Maiev.

"Are you ready to order?" He looked at her, then towards Kayanna realizing the other woman was sitting there.

"No, I've still not decided." Maiev replied, but paused as she looked at Kayanna. "Unless you want something to drink too?" Something told her that neither of them were going to be sticking around long enough to actually eat.

[member="Kayanna Djo"]​

 

[Kayanna Djo]

"You understanding my frustration doesn't make behavior fine..." Words spilled from the empty spaces of her clenched teeth, realizing that she was acting like a child. Abusing waiters, grabbing waitresses and sending the wrong signals, and making enemies of people she didn't know. That was the way offworlders would act, not members of the Misty Falls.

The Falls were peaceful.

And so were they.

But she couldn't seem to grasp it.

Not now, so far removed from those flowing waters.

She looked towards the waiter and nodded. "I'll take water. Thank you." Blue eyes fluttered as her attention turned back to the woman across the table. She was a woman removed from the same level of emotion as Anna, closed off or pent up or perhaps a combination of both. For her benefit or for the benefit of others, it was hard to tell. But Anna got the sneaking suspicion that something was hiding beneath that cool demeanor.

There wasn't a still pond in all of Dathomir that didn't hide a beast beneath pristine waters.

Leaning forward, coming to terms with the fact that wasn't getting her information from the Burning Deck of Nar Shhhaaaddaaaa, she placed calloused knuckles of her hand against chapped lips. Elbow propped against the linen of the table, she cut a hole through the woman who had been nothing but polite to her - with nothing more than piercing sight.

"So...Maiev..." No last name. That seemed odd. Was she a different being or species then, the sort that would protect the name for the power that was held in the internal meaning? Anna had been told of such beings, the sort that would only give their name upon dying breath. A power in syllables that was foreign to her. "Are you only here for information as well?"

[member="Maiev"]​

 

[Maiev]

The witch remained quiet as she watched Kayanna, although taking a moment between that to pick up her glass and sip at the contents. Maiev still retained her curious expression, watching the emotion that was being displayed.

Descending from her emotional high, the anger and frustration disappearing perhaps?

No. The clenched teeth said otherwise. It was simmering beneath flesh still, restrained from being unleashed.

But it seemed redirected somewhere. Not towards those she saw suspect, but inwards?

Interesting...

Maiev's lips parted to speak, but something made her pause and instead mask it behind sipping at her water.

Kalax had woken up.

<Maiev, where are we?> The spirit spoke sharply, not giving her a chance to respond before she went searching through her host's mind. <Why the hell are we still on Nar Shaddaa?>

I decided to see if we could still make something of this trip, and in fact Cavanos did leave something to follow up on.

<And we're still in the Burning Deck because...>

Well, we have company right now. A Kayanna Djo, apparently.

<Djo you say? Interesting, I've heard that name quite a bit back on Dathomir.>

All the while, Maiev's expression changed from curious to neutral, her attention clearly changing gears. But there was also a shift, something that usually went unnoticed by most, passing it off as nothing more than her attention slipping away every now and then. There were only certain types of people who realized what was happened, one being empaths.

Another was those experienced with spirits and the spiritual realm, or just general experience being around people that spoke to them.

Maiev's attention did snap back to reality when the ther witch began to speak. Her eyes were suddenly a darker shade, but a quick blink after seemingly returned them to their original colour.

"Yeah, I was pointed to Cavanos from someone else, said he had information on a group I've been trying to track down."

[member="Kayanna Djo"]​

 

[Kayanna Djo]

For all it's deplorable tendencies, Nar Shaddaa had it's own canorous appeal. Indeed, even the Burning Deck sang a soft melody of subtle cacophony. The sound of whispers in the distance, the chink of polished finery against the golden filigree of scuffed and second hand plates, the screams of the kitchen chefs at the sous and all the various underlings that one might need for preparation of Endorian chicken on a bed of season Ghoba rice. Like the buzz of the jungle, dragun flies whizzing by to the sound of a flutter of a bats wings as it just taken to flight. This was its own form of jungle, appreciated in moments of silence. Such as these, where the swift winds of thought seemed to have taken the woman across the table.

Deep pools of misty elegance, contorted against a furrowed brow and pensive expression, watched as she sipped her proffered glass of water. It tasted of metal and chemicals, far removed from expectation of fresh spring water on the mountain high. She considered putting it down but found herself lost in thought, Maive's expressions caught like every auburn leaf moving across the spindly branches of a Crescent Tree. There was a world of rustling that the woman had wondered off to and for a moment, Anna forgot about her own pursuits in curiosity of it. In what thought did such breed stygian from the tarns of lapping grey.

"A group..." Glabella wrinkled as she looked on, smoothing out the stained linen as she placed the flute of water back in its resting spot.

"Does your search entail a reason, beyond finding this...group?" Vengeance, she thought. Or something else?

Within Nar Shaddaa, misfortune and opportunity made for unexpected bedfellows. She wondered if the hunt between the two could coalesce, or if this aimless divigation would have her leave this den of debauchery empty handed. Only time would tell.

[member="Maiev"]​