Bright Lights, Bigger City [Open Club Thread]

[Mishel Kryze]

B L U S H​

​

Indigo District, Zeltros​

Mishel Ren walked to the entrance of Blush wearing a short dress, and once she got to the door. "Mishel Kerrigan," she told the bouncer who sidestepped and let her through the door and in she walked. The club felt different than the ones she had been to at home and maybe that was a good thing. She had hoped to be here with her sisters, Ara and Kaalia but neither of them were here. After Mustafar that seemed to be the common theme make plans and abandon them. Mishel felt strange here, quietly she took a seat on the edge of a sofa watching as the people danced, got drunk and did whatever else it was they were doing. The vat-grown Ren looked down at her outfit she only knew this was appropriate because [member="Ara[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] Ren"] kept her clothes separated by event. Makeup? Ara and [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] both introduced her to such contraptions and then it was deemed that Mishel get a proper social education and was enrolled at a university, Avalonia University to be exact.

Being at the club would do good for the cover, for blending into the crowd as [member="[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]Samka[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] [/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]Derith[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]"] might say. The brunette got to her feet and listened to the music for a moment, she recalled the mining club down on Chalcedon. With a smile she made her way to the bar first, "hi, hey 'scuse me yeah, can I uh, can I get what is this." She pointed to a rather harsh looking beverage, "yeah that, I'll take that." She shot the bartender a wink, she'd have to thank Ara for the many days out to various bars and clubs. Not that Samka approved of any of it but looking back on it - it was a good thing. "Thanks." She took her drink and walked around the dance floor, her eyes studied those on the floor with a mix of curiosity and desire. Her eyes fell particularly to the women, Mishel bit down on her lower lip and took a breath. Whatever it was she was feeling she felt it before, several times, the teenager cleared her throat and began to chug her drink.

The girl never did learn to take just simple sips, shots or chugs were all she knew. Mishel held the now empty glass to her eyes as she studied what was left and then headed back to the bar for another drink. When the bartender asked her how she would pay for her drinks she replied, "put it on my mom's tab, Siobhan Kerrigan of Fire-"

He put his hand up, he knew who Siobhan was. "Didn't know that lady reproduced, Force help us all..."

Mishel gave the bartender a tight smile before her hand rested against the necklace she wore. She was grateful for the necklace that concealed her force aura as she turned her head to survey the club once again. She caught sight of foot traffic upstairs, namely [member="Hazel[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] Zanteres"], a face she recognised from the Order of the Sacred Lotus - she did not recognize [member="The Slave"] and thus for her they seemed to blend in with the crowd. The same went for [member="Viktor[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] Alexander"], [member="Kaiden[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] Rohn"], [member="Denn [/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]Ralto[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]"], [member="FN-9999"] and many of the others here at the club although as she looked back toward the second floor. [member="Joza Perl"] stuck out in her mind and again, the Scared Lotus came to mind. [member="Malcolm[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] Akintola"], [member="Guz[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] McGarion"] blended into the crowd as well and [member="Leilani[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px] [/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]Paaie[/FONT][/SIZE][FONT=georgia][SIZE=14px]"] was just another pretty face. "You know what I'll take something lighter, let's try this." She pointed to one of the drinks on a flap.

Bartender shrugged and handed her the drink, Mishel took it and went on her way to take a seat in a back corner of the first floor.

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

[member="Mishel Ren"] sent every alarm that the soldier had up. He blinked. The booze was wearing off- and he was due a hangover direct from Mother Nature herself. But that would come later. A glass of water set him to rights, as much as he could be. He couldn't place it. He touched the slugthrower in his waistband. Hard to keep old habits at bay. He needed to move. He felt like he was being burned. The second floor was hopping. He rubbed his eyes, adjusting his body posture as he approached a bouncer. The bouncer raised his hand to protest, but Kaiden shoved a credit chit in his hand. Easy to bribe. Most people were. He didn't even count, but it was enough to get him through. His well-trained eyes locked towards [member="Joza Perl"], and [member="The Slave"].


But another caught his eye, [member="Hazel Zanteres"]. He stopped, watching her pass. He spoke in his gravelly tone, rising above the trance-inducing music and the blinding lights. He tried his best to appear sober. But, the demon drink and him were old friends- it made it easy to pretend like he was better off than he was.

"Mind if I join you at the bar?"

 

[Sal Katarn]

Spin. Whiz. Click, click, click. Spin. Whiz. Click, click, click.

A grizzled man sat at a table by himself. Beneath the tabletop, he idly spun the the cylinder of a revolver.

The writhing mass of bodies on the dance floor left the room in a heat. Perfume, pheromones, and perspiration choked the air. The pulsing music blared, deep bass thrumming so low he could feel it in his gut.

Sal's lips twitched.

A barely clothed waitress came over, tried to get him to buy more drinks.

"Pass."

And she did.

Green eyes watched the upper deck, narrowed in on a pair of figures.

Hm. Familiar face.

And one of a different sort. Of all those in the building on the lam, Sal only cared about one tonight.

[member="Joza Perl"] | [member="The Slave"]

 

[Hansen]

Sydney Ramek
Zeltros, Indigo District, Blush

Sydney shuffles towards the bar and waits for the bartender to give a glance her way amongst the crowd before sheepishly raising her leather glove-sheathed left-hand concealing the azure painted fingernails at the end of them. "Uhm yes, excuse me sir!" The Zeltron bartender takes a moment and gives the obviously foreign girl from the sound of her accent a brief study. "Would you kindly get me some Trandoshan Ale please?" The bartender smirk goes into an entertained smile and gives Sydney a nod and she goes to squeeze between [member="Mishel Ren"] and another patron at the bar. Sydney's right hand reaches into her own leather overcoat; fingers searching for a zipper and she struggles to peel it open, they lurch forth uncomfortably with Sydney having her arm at an awkward angle in an attempt to better reach the low-value credit chit. "Pardon me, Ma'am." Sydney offers the apology up to the young woman, she takes a moment to examine the woman's dress out of the corner of sight jealously the floral design leaves the young woman absolutely envious, Sydney concluded the woman must be very confident to wear something like that especially given the District's reputation. Then again, Sydney considers that maybe the woman didn't need to carry weapons to be dangerous like Sydney and that thought itself delivered unto her a depressed feeling of inadequacy. Nobody come out into the Indigo district without carrying some kind of weapon right? And that dress left very little space to leave much of anything concealed on the woman's person.


[member="Aria Vale"] [member="Malok"] [member="Joza Perl"] [member="John Trenway"] [member="Guz McGarion"] [member="The Slave"] [member="Leilani Paaie"] [member="Malcolm Akintola"] [member="Viktor Alexander"] [member="Kaiden Rohn"] [member="Denn Ralto"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Zeltros was a planet whose box had yet to be checked on her list of visited planets, and with [member="Mishel Ren"] heading there Kaalia decided to go there as well. She had heard things about a place called Club Blush, and now she was making her way inside. It was a pretty seedy place, but she didn't mind that. She was up for a night of drinking and music. That's all that mattered. Originally had asked Ara to come along, but it seemed she was busy as she pulled out of going before the redhead boarded the shuttle to the planet.

The first thing Kaalia noticed when entering the club was the amount of, to put it lightly, good looking women. She would never admit that they often were a major reason for her to visit places like this, but deep down she knew Ara already figured that out. She walked over to the bar when she saw the familiar face of Mishel talking to someone, and wurming her way through the crowd she came up to them. She sat down on the stool next to Mishel with a "Hey, good to see you here!" and a smile. She turned to the barkeeper and tossed a few credits his way. "A Corellian brandy, please." The drink was quickly served, and after a good swig she turned back to the other two. She felt a slight buzz and warmed up a little. "Who's your friend over here?"



[member="Aria Vale"] [member="Malok"] [member="Joza Perl"] [member="John Trenway"] [member="Guz McGarion"] [member="The Slave"] [member="Leilani Paaie"] [member="Malcolm Akintola"] [member="Viktor Alexander"] [member="Kaiden Rohn"] [member="Denn Ralto"] [member="FN-9999"]

 

[Mishel Kryze]

B L U S H​

​

Indigo District, Zeltros​

​

​

Confidence, Mishel had to remember what that was when [member="FN-9999"] bumped into her. In a flash, she recalled the days spent with her fellow Ren in various night clubs and bars, "no problem at all, Miss." One hand still gripped her drink while she extended another toward the other woman. She gave her a smile and then heard an all too familiar voice. [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] had actually arrived and before Mishel could react she was being questioned about the woman. "Oh well, um, we just sort of ran into each other." The teenager put her drink down on the counter, one hand still holding onto the woman's while she pulled Kaalia into a half-hug. "So glad you could make it, I was worried you weren't going to show. Ara bailed on us, I think she's off having that alone time she needed." Or with Connor, either way she wasn't here and they were. Hazel-green eyes were a rare sight to see on the young woman as she peered over her shoulder. She finally released the blonde's hand and moved toward the counter where she saddled up beside the redhead. She sipped her drink quietly and a ran a hand through her hair, outwardly she appeared as normal as anyone else. On the inside synthetics ran through her body at least until new skin, bone and tissue could be completely regenerated.

"How have you been?"

 

[Joza Perl]

“Understandable, love.” She crooned as she caught the glint in Hazel’s eyes. The good doctor certainly looked far less formal than the last time they’d met, and it was good to know that she had a side where she could cut loose. “Work comes first. Glad you had the chance to come unwind.” People often assumed that what you saw was what you got, but sometimes there was a little surprise to be had. “Feel free to go on up to the VIP room if it gets too loud in here for you.” She waved a hand to the staircase that lead upstairs, blocked off by a pair of burly guards.

The cigarette in her mouth shifted between two pink fingers, smoke curling into the humid air as she waved to the retreating form of [member="Hazel Zanteres"].

As her friend made her way towards the bar, Joza’s attention turned back to [member="The Slave"]. Now that he was closer, she could sense the darkness that leaked from him like ichor. The scars and fresh bruising didn’t go unnoticed either. “The heart,” She repeated, brow sliding upwards as the cigarette found its way back between ruby lips. “What do you know about the that?” Amusement drifted from her tone like smoke from the edge of her mouth, but her eyes were patient. From behind John Doe, she spied [member="Viktor Alexander"] and his small smile as the man’s attention seemed to focus on her as he extended a hand in greeting.

“Not the dancing sort?” Joza shook his hand firmly, fully aware that the second level was a bit more subdued than the first floor. There was still plenty of booze, plenty of booths and tables to pass out at. The only thing it lacked was a dance floor, but the ambiance of the floor beneath was still present.

Bright green eyes would turn back the crowd below, sweeping along the dance floor and surrounding areas. Flirting, dancing, even some guy snorting spice in his booth. A few couples on the dance floor were already shamelessly making out in a way that would have gotten them booted anywhere else. Ah, Zeltros.

Her gaze caught a glint of something familiar, immediately backtracking so that eyes could rest on that bastard [member="Sal Katarn"]. She didn’t know who he was, but he’d breezed through a slaver bust on Nar Kreeta with she tried to case the joint. One of those grumble grumble, shoot types. He’d also kicked her pet, so she was still a little bitter about that. Hopefully he wasn’t here to shoot up the place.

 

[Darth Empyrean]

The Slave switched the side of his mouth the cigarello lay on, pulling it from his lips with two fingers before letting smoke roll from a wide grin. He was donning dark clothes, loose and casual for the sake of comfort, but not without their own refinement, but perhaps not on the same level as a suit sporting Viktor.

His legs crossed as [member="Joza Perl"] spoke to the others, idly watching each of their facial expressions and demeanors. Suffice to say, he was the studious type, but more than anything he enjoyed what made people tick. Each person was a story years in the making, and how much one could decipher off just the first few moments of meeting them was important.

With [member="Hazel Zanteres"] he took in her blonde hair, her elegant azure eyes. She certainly had a well developed form, and in no way could he say she wasn’t attractive, but what really interested him in was how she carried herself. The words she spoke, the concern she carried in her passive gaze, the micro expressions she gave off when she glanced to him… She was the caring type. The sort to want to help instead of hinder, something he could respect at the very least.

And [member="Viktor Alexander"]; The newly arrived human with a sashay you’d find in a young politician than you would any random street urchin. He had to be something important… Institutional in nature. Judging by the scar, he was likely military… but perhaps underworld related. He couldn’t be sure just yet, but he noted how he avoided him in favor of the women.

He simpered, pleased with himself as he took another drag of his cigarello. He absolutely loved the presence of others, the endless stories they told in the slight twitch of their brow, or the scars they held showing the days they nearly lost, but the one person he couldn’t place was Joza Perl. She carried herself in too many ways, too many expressions he couldn’t place.

It drove him wild.

“I know the heart often sees what the eyes cannot.”, he said ashing once more in a nearby ashtray before leaning back, resting it back between his pale rosy lips.

“In this case, it saw you through the darkness and the smoke.”

He continued to eye her, studying the glowing emerald shades in her eye with a careful gaze.

“And what do you know of it?”

Deep below [member="Sal Katarn"] carefully watched him, but he was far too disinterested in the rest of the club to notice. Whatever his intentions were, they were unknown or uncared for by The Slave, choosing instead to enjoy the pheromones and gracious beauty that surround everyone in the vicinity.

 

[Leilani Paaie]

There were the expected light finger touches as she walked, a few tried to get her attention but what they wanted was not what she was doing here today. She nodded and smiled at all those that had the potential to possess something she needed either now or in the future. [member="Darlyn Excron"] [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] .

She reached for her drink and moved slightly to her right. Leilani looked up at where [member="Joza Perl"] watched and those that gathered around her [member="Hazel Zanteres"] [member="The Slave"]. Ms. Perl's image was not unknown to Leilani. She looked again at [member="FN-9999"] she wondered what he was up to. Leilani's eyes locked with [member="Viktor Alexander"] for a brief moment she nodded perhaps later but then who knew he was joining Joza's group.

A human then caught her eye she couldn't help but notice the cuff links, First Order. She smiled and made her way towards. His hair was dark brown, his eyes were blue, clearly upper echelon because of the cuff links, and right now alone. Leilani moved closer, "Care for some company?" He looked up, and then down he motioned with one hand for her to sit. "I'm Leilani." From where she sat now she could see Joza and her party clearly.

She motioned for them to refill his drink. He might assume she was on the staff she would let him think what he wanted for now.

[member="Mishel Ren"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[John Trenway]

Out on the dance floor, things appeared to be getting more intense. Trenway could smell the pheromones now, and while he was more or less immune from the effects thanks to his long-lasting marriage with his wife, it only served to add to the mayhem that was Blush. Long John scoffed in disapproval when he gazed upon activities such as snorting spice. Drugs were merely a temporary high. He'd seen narcotic abuse destroy the lives of many a fine pirate. Drink was also overflowing in the nightclub. There were people passing out in tables and booths and others emptying their stomachs in the back, vainly trying to make it to the head, but just seconds too late. Rum had often gotten the best of some of his fellow swashbucklers as well, including his dear friend and former superior, Cap'n Steele, one of the fiercest pirates to ever scour the Outer Rim. It was under the influence of alcohol that he had decided to take his own life that fateful night...

"Hey! Stop that! John!"

Long John heard the shrill cries of his missus, discernible to him even throughout the chaotic pandemonium of the nightclub. The salty pirate stood out of his booth, still clutching the barely drank bottle of rum in his left hand. His eyes ran through the club, searching for his wife, when he spied her near the edge of the dance floor. She was being pressed upon by an overeager Zeltron man, whose advances grew too eager. He had his arms wrapped around John's wife, his hands searching her body, and was passionately attempting to kiss the Zeltron woman. Trenway snorted in anger. It was time to play the part of protective husband.

Advancing through the crowd, not caring who the burly man shoved past him, Long John reached the two and promptly grabbed the wrist of the offending male, jerking him off of his wife with a sharp pull. He brought the man up to him, arm still held in his steel clutch, and barked in his face.

"The lady said no, tramp."

His missus cast John an appreciative glance, grateful to be out of the embrace of the overeager partygoer. The man stared into the eyes of the pirate, glazed and unfocused. He was probably heavily influenced then by drugs and drink. The Zeltron man spoke, spitting into Long John's face.

"She was asking for it, and now you are too, karking piece of..."

He attempted to swing at the seasoned scallywag. He either wasn't used to fighting or the drugs were really influencing him, for the man forgot that Long John still had his wrist held tight in his cybernetic clutches. Leaning back, Trenway let the fist pass by his face effortlessly, then squeezed, hard. A sharp crack resonated through the immediate area, and the Zeltron's howls of pain quickly followed. A boot to the now kneeling man's chest (not his metal leg-Long John wasn't that cruel) sent the offender flying backwards, where he landed on a stacked table, bringing it and the contents on top of it crashing to the floor.

His missus went running over to the side of the pirate, and he put a protective arm around her waist, drawing her close to his side.

"Ya all right, Zilka?"

She exhaled deeply and looked to her husband, smiling warmly.

"I am now."

Long John smiled back at her and looked around. There was a small group of observers, who took alternating glances between the victorious pirate and the unconscious Zeltron surrounded by shattered glass and a broken tabletop. His actions suddenly dawned on him, and John released his wife and spoke quickly.

"Listen, m'dear. Go back to yer parent's house. Security is going to be on top of me in nary a second. Here. Take me rum. Go."

With an understanding nod, Zilka quickly walked out of the area and made her way outside, clutching the bottle of rum in her delicate grasp. Trenway stared at the onlookers about him and made his way back to his booth, knowing all too well that security would soon intercept him...

[member="Leilani Paaie"] [member="The Slave"] [member="Joza Perl"] [member="Mishel Ren"] [member="Darlyn Excron"] [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] [member="Hazel Zanteres"] [member="FN-9999"] [member="Viktor Alexander"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

"Thank you for the offer Joza." And Hazel would certainly use it later in the night. Her previous times at Blush and other clubs were always devoid of ever experiencing the VIP side of things. And while she had always enjoyed her nights out, they were always cut shorter than they ought to due to headaches. So a chance for a bit of quiet at any point was a blessing to her, allowing her to continue the night.

As she had moved towards the bar, she took the moment to look down over the railing. Her eyes wandered until they fell on a familar pair of manes; one brown the other red. She didn't even need to see their faces to know it was [member="Mishel Ren"] and [member="Kaalia Voldaren"]. A warm smile appeared on her face briefly, remembering the events on Monastery when the Ren had been there in the aftermath of Mustafar. She was pleased to see they were both doing well, especially Mishel.

She had been on the move by the time [member="Viktor Alexander"] had made his way over, but she offered the man a smile as she passed by.

Once she was seated the bar, she began perusing what they had to offer. Though as she was about to wave the bartender over, she heard a voice coming from the side.

Hazel looked at [member="Kaiden Rohn"], and immediately picked up on the fact the man wasn't entire sober right now. Though she wasn't really surprised, given it wasn't exactly a rare sight in a club.

She didn't deny him though. "Certainly, take up a seat." She said motioning to the stool beside her.

Part of it was because she was curious. Something about Kaiden strung that familiar cord. Hazel wasn't sure if she recognised the face, or if it was how the man held himself like an off-duty soldier that already had a few drinks.

Either way, she was going to test for a reaction. In which when she waved the bartender over, she ordered one of the more 'harsher' alcohols; one that was a usual favourite amongst military types. And something Hazel had drunk plenty of times in the past.

[member="Joza Perl"] | [member="The Slave"] | [member="Darlyn Excron"] | [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] | [member="FN-9999"] | [member="Sal Katarn"] | [member="John Trenway"] | [member="Leilani Paaie"]

 

[Kenrath]

Viktor smiled at [member="Joza Perl"] and her comment.

"Why have just any dance when you could be enjoying the dance." "Between those curves and the blue eyed temptress that just wandered off a man could be encouraged to think of any number of things only acceptable on a world such as this one."

Viktor smiled sipping his drink of course referring to the good Doctor [member="Hazel Zanteres"] with the temptress comment. Some one he intended to at the very least have a personal introduction with.

"But if you prefer I did notice a rather lovely black dress hugging a fair pink skinned lass who could use some attention."

Viktor glanced briefly towards the last place he had seen [member="Leilani Paaie"] before turning back to Joza.

"Regardless I am Viktor and it is a great pleasure to meet you. May I assume from the many guards in this corner that you run the little slice of indulgence?"


[member="The Slave"]

 

[Sal Katarn]

Each cartridge slid smoothly into a chamber. Idle fingers pushed them in one-by-one. Shells, not slugs, packed with flechettes tipped in the neurotoxin of an exotic frog species. Non-lethal. Mostly.

Sal supposed one of the metal darts could go through the eyeball. He snorted. That would be messy.

The bounty hunter slid the pistol back into the holster, then ran a hand through his mop of lank, greasy hair.

Wait until he leaves, or go in now.

Somehow, Katarn doubted flashing his Guild license would get him anything but the door out in this establishment. Besides, there were a lotta flies buzzing 'round the honeypot up there, tryin' for a taste. Personally, Sal couldn't stomach bootlicking.

Probably why I never got far.

[member="Joza Perl"] | [member="The Slave"]

 

[Hansen]

Sydney Ramek
Zeltros, Indigo District, Blush

The sound of a collapsing table fills the lower level of the club accompanied by a small number of women shrieking; Sydney's attention snaps in the direction of this commotion, blaster? Weapon? No. Just one peculiar looking fellow looming over a Zeltron man by the looks of things buried between two pieces of wood table. "Oh dear, looks like some ruffians are having a scrap." Sydney observes openly with a chuckle and clasps at the strange woman's hand tightly and glances back to the Bartender to find an ale-filled polymer cup waiting for her free leather glove-sheathed hand, after snatching it up Sydney's spheres now switch to the source of yet another familiar accent; Could it be that these two women were simply from the core or like Sydney had origins far more remote? "I'm Sydney, I just kind of ran into your friend here." Sydney's blonde hair covered head nods towards the smaller woman with a friendly smile, perching herself at the counter beside the brunette-haired woman. Sydney gives a suspicious glance over her shoulder and smooth epaulette into the crowd, before bringing her attention to the Ale and the straw bobbing up and down in the frothy lime liquid hence the 'Trandoshan' name it went by. Sydney lowers her head and takes one small sip before recoiling at its strength. "Gah, that is pungent." Sydney's eyes rise to find a greatly entertained Bartender grinning wickedly at the foreign woman's reaction; It was clear to the Zeltron she didn't drink too often and nothing that strong. "Shoo away, you!" Her hand flutters towards the Zeltron, spiriting him away.

[member="Mishel Ren"] [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Malok"] [member="Joza Perl"] [member="John Trenway"] [member="Guz McGarion"] [member="The Slave"] [member="Leilani Paaie"] [member="Malcolm Akintola"] [member="Viktor Alexander"] [member="Kaiden Rohn"] [member="Denn Ralto"]

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Kaalia returned [member="Mishel Ren"]'s half hug and chuckled at her remark. "Did you really think I was going to skip out on a night out? Ara probably had a very good reason to stay away, but I didn't." She took another sip from her glass, and set it back down onto the bar with a satisfying thud that spilled a little bit of the drink onto the wood it was placed on. The two hadn't really been able to catch up since what happened on Monastery, and it was good to see she was doing much better. "I've been alright. It's been a bit hectic, as you know, but things are being straightened out." She traced a finger along the small stream of brandy on the side of her glass and put it in her mouth to get it off. "How have things been for you?" Ever since the time she flatlined and almost died her Force presence had been bathing in the Light, but in truth the redhead didn't care. Her last and final meeting with her former Jedi master had changed her perspective on the Light only slightly, but no longer did she have an irrational hate for it anymore. She wouldn't go turn back to the Light anymore herself, she felt free within the Darkness, but that didn't mean she couldn't have relations with people that kept to the Light Side.

The woman turned to the woman who introduced herself as Sydney, and she offered a handshake. "Kaalia." She was amused by the blonde's reaction to her drink, the cause of her surprise likely being that she didn't drink much. "You should probably try something less strong. I'd recommend some brandy but I think that's even worse." She smiled and took another sip of her drink, finishing it. Ara was to thank for her love for the amber liquid. She was all too willing to get the redhead glass after glass of the drink, and eventually it grew on her. It was her drink of choice, even though sometimes she would switch it up.

[member="FN-9999"]

 

[Kaiden Rohn]

Certainly.

The way she said it. The old familiar pain of memory came to him- granted, it was distant and hazed by whiskey, but memories were often like that. They rarely came when you tried to remember them fully, and came at you hard when you didn't want to. But the girl, the blonde woman- seemed so painfully familiar. He blinked, trying to sober up. He didn't quite stumble to the bar, but he wasn't walking straight either.

She ordered a drink that most grunts would. He could respect that. Part of him itched for the gun. He rubbed the scar on his face, flashing, inadvertently, his Republic tattoo on his finger. He realized it, cursing himself. Not smart to flash it around anymore. Wouldn't do him any favors, anyway. But he was damn proud of it. Not proud enough to do more to save it, though. Kaiden flashed his eyes up to the woman when she got her drink. He got a water. He had enough to drink. Quite enough.

He rolled his arm, looking over at her. Maybe it was the demon drink in him. Maybe it was the rapidly approaching darkness of middle age. Maybe it was the fact that he liked how her hair rested over her eyes.

"We've met before, haven't we?"

[member="Hazel Zanteres"]

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

The moment the drink's name left her lips Hazel's eyes were on the man, watching everything he did.

She saw that recognition in Kaiden's eyes at the drink. Then he rubbed the scar that was prominent on his face; that in itself was a dead giveaway and at least to Hazel screamed 'military'. But it was the Republic tattoo that finally confirmed it all for her. Even when he recoiled slightly, realizing he had shown it. There was that spark of pride in his eyes that she saw.

When the bartender finally handed her the drink, she took a sip of it and let out a content hum. It was something she hadn't tasted for years, and for the longest time she had avoided it because of the memories attached to it. That, once upon a time she would've been sitting at a bar with her squad, drinking away after a successful mission.

Especially now that such a thing was impossible to do now.

Hazel nodded her head at the man's words, even before she realised she had. His voice was familiar, now that he was closer she could remember hearing it a number of times - though it was typically beneath a helmet.

"Yeah, I believe we do." Her eyes averted from the wall behind the bar, over to Kaiden. "Republic Military right?"

She held her free hand out to him. "Hazel Zanteres, former Battle Medic. I went by the callsign Valkyrie." Along with a number of titles that had been attached to her over the years. The Healing Angel - The Merciful Medic, to name a couple.

Once upon a time she bore that codename, when she was running across battlefields with her team. One that had been scrapped together through camaraderie. The others had always joked that she had an odd charisma to her then, able to bring people to her side as she practically glided around healing as many of their allies as she could find.

[member="Joza Perl"] | [member="The Slave"] | [member="Darlyn Excron"] | [member="Nate the Bounty Hunter"] | [member="FN-9999"] | [member="Sal Katarn"] | [member="John Trenway"] | [member="Leilani Paaie"] | [member="Mishel Ren"] | [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] | [member="Viktor Alexander"]

 

[Darth Metus]

B L U S H
Zeltros, Indigo District​

"Commanda. Drink."

The divine interruption was heralded by the slapping of two monsterous hands upon a table. The collision between Ma'alkerrite flesh and cheap material caused the latter to dip. An avalanche of glass, water, and liquor crashed down upon the floor, thereby adding to the noise of the club. Malok's nostrils flared momentarily before he reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose with his offhand. "I am not here for pleasure, gorramit." He said, indicating the potential recruit before him...who had now just lost his beverage.

"Yewr neva 'ere for pleasha. Yewr neva t'ere for pleasha. Yew'r gettin' borin, Commanda."

"Striok, I swear to the gods I will slap you."

The exchange garnered a laugh from the potential recruit.

"Listen. Ladies. You're both very pretty...and I've got to agree with our new friend here, Commander. All work and no play makes for a dull ApeX."

Malok huffed.

"So what you're telling me, Mr. Baelo-"

"Sam works fine."

"So what you're telling me, Sam, is that your employment hinges on whether or not I drink?"

"Consider it my signing bonus."

The Ma'alkerrite's displeasure was evident in his expression...but thus far, the trip to Zeltros had been the furthest thing from fruitful. Business was good, but every mission cost lives. He couldn't afford to leave the planet empty-handed. "Fine. Fine!" he said, rising to his feet. The Behemoth then, with Striok and the new recruit gleefully at his heels, made his way over to the bar. His colossal posterior plopped into the seat beside another ApeX Faithful - [member="FN-9999"] - before a growl erupted from his lips.

"Brandy. Now. Please."

[member="Kaalia Voldaren"], [member="FN-9999"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Each finger of his right hand flexed in turn. More accurately, they twitched when he attempted to squeeze them shut, and the hydraulics in his gauntlet amplified the effort and forced them closed. The hiss that accompanied the movement made it seem far more sinister than it was. Shuk'om, they had called it. Crushgaunt. Once among the most hated and illegal weapons in the galaxy, time had faded it into obscurity and only the Mandalorians kept memory of it.

Modern times had seen a resurgance of the technology, but this was certainly a new usage for it. His fist held shut for several seconds before he allowed it to relax, slowly acclimating the sundered nerves to acclimate to the strength and pressure of the beskar. He may as well have gotten a mechanical arm.

Alkor stowed that arm beneath his cloak and took a seat at one of the booths, away from the ambient lighting and crowd. Zeltros played with his mind, more because his body reacted in a starkly different manner under the effects of pheromones. Old mantras about self control and discipline played over in his mind as they saturated his thoughts and steeled him against desires of the flesh.

His thoughts turned cold, and the heat in his blood chilled. The Jen'jidai blew out his repulsion and focused on his task. "Ale," he glanced up at the Zeltronian woman as she smiled and asked his order. "Corellian, preferably."

With a quick nod, the pink skinned woman turned to fetch his drink. Since that day, he had not seen [member="Joza Perl"], but she had saved his life. Whatever she thought of him, he wanted to thank her with his mind returned to normal, and to repay her.

Alkor disliked being indebted to anyone.

When the server returned, he accepted the glass in his left hand and began to sip at its contents thoughtfully. With a slow nod of appreciation, he set it back on the table in front of him.

@Pmucheveryoneelse

 

[Joza Perl]

Her lips twitched around the cigarette, the beginnings of a Cheshire smile threatening to curl each corner. “Sounds like you’re thinking with your meat.”

She reveled in the burn of his gaze on her, having no issue with attention or being in the spotlight. Something you could attribute to her pink blood. She removed the cigarette from between her lips for a moment, exhaling smoke to the side and away from her two guests while glancing down at [member="Sal Katarn"] for a hot second. If his work on Kreeta was anything to go by, he was messy and she’d be very upset if he picked his target out here. “Nothin’ in this place caters to the heart.” Her words rode on a breathy chuckle at the tail end of the smoke.

[member="Viktor Alexander"]’s spoken observations were rather bold, but this was Zeltros. Not even the good area of Zeltros, so objectification was expected. “Nice to meet you as well, Viktor. I’m Joza Perl, owner of Blush. Enjoying the eye candy so far?”

X

No sooner had [member="John Trenway"] sent his wife (and rum) away did a team of four security guards aim to tackle the cyborg pirate beast of a man. The patrons in the general area that hadn’t cleared away when the table was smashed certainly made room now, and someone managed to drag the unconscious male Zeltron’s body away from the fray.

From her place on the second floor, Joza gave the scuffle a lingering side glance before turning back to her conversation partners. Same chit, different night. The familiar presence of [member="Alkor Centaris"] prickled her senses through the pheromones and smoke, though she couldn't quite place who it was just yet.