First Reply Can't Drown Your Sorrows in Vinegar | Coruscant

[Xeno]

Coruscant
Tags: Open

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

"Feth... this is disgusting."

Xeno cringed as he set down his glass. He was seated at a seedy bar in the underbelly, home to only a few other patrons and an old Twi'lek bartender. The man simply laughed at the half-Nagai's reaction.

"It's beer, son," the bartender croaked. "Ain't s'posed ta be good tastin'. Just for gettin' sozzled."

How the hell did Klocto even manage drinking? Xeno couldn't ever find anything that didn't seem to be trying to mimic the taste of toxic sludge. There was supposed to be something here that was therapeutic, something something forgetting the past at the bottom of a bottle, but he just couldn't get past the taste. And there was a hell of a lot to forget, at least as far as Xeno was concerned. Most people knew the underground musician. That was fine. Xeno didn't want to share that other part of him with the galaxy...

Born to slaves, sold to Sith, forged into a killer. He once lived a life consumed by anguish and hatred, fueled at those he slaughtered in the name of a master he despised above all others. It hardly mattered that it was a life that had been thrust upon him unwillingly. Even if for survival, he had become Sith. A monster, defined as nothing more than an abomination to the natural order of life. While Sithspit was a refreshing group therapy project, the nightmares still haunted him. The whipping of chains, unseen hands wrapped around his throat, the sting of blue electricity... but strongest of all was the smell of blood. Blood drawn by his blade without a second thought or remorse.

Maybe it was better to try and forget. If only the miracle fluid that was supposed to do the job wasn't terribly vile tasting.

"I'll pass," Xeno sighed, standing up from his stool and sliding the bartender a few credits. "Ain't cut out to be a drunkard."

"Smart choice," the bartender noted, beginning to rinse out Xeno's discarded glass. "Those folks end up in the gutter."

The half-Nagai stuffed his hands into his pockets and began to shuffle towards the exit. Before he could reach the door, however, he heard the familiar click of a blaster being primed. The end of the barrel pressed to the back of his head. He could see the pale man in the reflection of the window, a shorter human man with a large bald spot dressed in a trench coat. Just the kind of guy you'd expect to run spice for the thrill of it. A cigar hung loosely in his mouth, which spread into a chit-eating grin.

"Easy now, sunshine," the man began in a raspy tone. "Yous ain't goin' nowheres, Mr. Xeno."

Just his luck.

 

[Laphisto]

The tension in the air was palpable, a thick fog that suffocated any sense of calm. Laphisto's voice sliced through the silence like a finely honed blade, his words measured and deliberate.

"You're playing a dangerous game," he stated as he strode forward, the scratch of his taloned feet breaking the uneasy stillness. His piercing green eyes locked onto the man holding the blaster. "There are too many variables when you put a weapon to someone's head. And it seems like you have no idea who else may be watching."

He paused a few paces away, his stance relaxed but purposeful. a broken vibroblade attached to his hip glinted in the dim light of the bar, more of a curiosity than a threat at first glance.

"I don't know what business you're involved in, and quite frankly, I don't care," he continued in a steady, matter-of-fact tone. "But here's what I do know - whatever you think you'll gain from this, it's not worth the consequences."

Laphisto briefly glanced at the half-Nagai nearby, assessing their state before returning his gaze to the armed man. He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable but not hostile.

As he spoke, a twinge of frustration crossed his mind. This wasn't just about diffusing a tense situation - it was about the potential fallout for him and his organization. Somewhere in this seedy bar, there was supposed to be a seller waiting for a signal to approach. Rare hyperdrive components were hard to come by, especially ones capable of moving an entire station. If this altercation scared off the seller, it could set back their plans by weeks or even months.

With each step he took forward, Laphisto's voice remained calm but gained a sense of urgency. "Listen," he said, his tone lowering slightly. "This isn't the place for a display like this. People come here to mind their own business, not get involved in someone else's mess. And if you don't end this now, you'll ruin things for more than just yourself."

His amber gaze lingered on the spice runner, a silent warning that carried more weight than any threat. Laphisto took another step closer, his posture firm and some what imposing. especially for a man who stood well over seven feet tall

"So what's it going to be?" he asked, his voice steady yet laced with finality. "Because I have more important matters to attend to than cleaning up after your mistakes - and I surely won't tolerate losing a valuable deal because of them."

Xeno

 

[Xeno]

Coruscant
Tags: Laphisto

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

Xeno let out a sigh, grumbling to himself as the situation began to escalate. Some wayward hero type in heavy armor, covered in strange draconic features. Hard to miss considering the height. The thug, however, wasn't entertained by his display. No height, imposing presence, or vibrosword was going to deter him. Bravery and stupidity had a very thin line between them.

"Ain't interested in what you're sellin, bub," the balding man scowled. "The Pikes ain't happy with this fella, ya dig? Been makin' a mess of my associates for a long ass time. I'm sure a big military man likes yourself knows the ol' adage of protectin' your own. Fair is fair-"

"Shut up," Xeno scoffed, interrupting the man as he spoke. "This is a waste of my damn time."

The air began to swirl with power. In an instant the blaster in the man's hand was crushed, recuced to scrap. Popped like a grape. Xeno may have taken a vow to never kill again, but he wasn't opposed to using the Force to take decisive action.

"What in the blaze-"

And his would-be assassin wasn't quite prepared to handle someone who had been trained. Not in the way Xeno was. The half-Nagai used his height to throw his head back into his opponent, shattering their nose. With one swift and purposeful motion he grabbed the man's arm and threw him over his head, slamming him on the ground. The human was out like a light, his eyes slightly open enough to reveal the whites. A small line of blood slipped out of his now broken nose. Xeno sighed, stuffing his hands back into his pockets.

"Negotiating with a moron like that is a waste of time," he stated rather bluntly to the draconic man. "A man who fears nothing is a threat. Waiting around is taking a risk. Time is a luxury most don't have."

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto's arms remained crossed as he watched the scene unfold, his expression a mix of mild irritation and thoughtful calculation. The display of the Force had been precise, a testament to training and control. Still, it was far from subtle, and subtlety was exactly what this situation had called for.

As the air settled and the room returned to its uneasy quiet, Laphisto's eyes shimmered briefly. A ripple of teal spread outward from his pupils as his Force Sight activated, washing over the bar and peeling back the layers of the mundane. The Living Force illuminated his vision, painting the room in hues of red, white, grey, and blue.

The unconscious thug on the floor was an easy read—nothing unusual, a dim red presence that barely registered beyond the faint pulse of life clinging to him. The rest of the bar was awash with faint greys and blues, neutral presences marked by fear and the desire to remain uninvolved.

When Laphisto's gaze settled on the Xeno he paused, his expression tightening slightly. pokign and prying at the manes alignment to the force though not with more purpose than to help him to see which way he leaned. if at all. He allowed his Force Sight to linger for a moment longer, testing the edges of the presence before deactivating it, the teal glow fading from his vision. and imediattly giving a visable wince as he grabbed at his nose, rubbing the corner of his eyes before looking back at the man

"Well," he began, his tone even and pragmatic, though a note of irritation lingered. "That was certainly one way to handle it. Effective, sure. But not exactly quiet."

He glanced around the bar, his amber eyes scanning for his contact. No sign of the person he was supposed to meet. His jaw tightened slightly as he turned his attention back to the man

"I needed this place to stay low-profile," he said, a faint growl edging into his voice. "A commotion like that tends to make people skittish—people I can't afford to lose track of."

He gestured toward the unconscious thug on the floor with a tilt of his head. "I don't suppose this is the kind of trouble that resolves itself, is it? Are the Pikes hunting Jedi again, or is this something more... personal?"

His tone carried no judgment, only a pragmatic curiosity. Laphisto wasn't one to get involved without reason, but the ripples this man had made in the Force were impossible to ignore. There was something here worth understanding, though whether it would help or hinder his own goals remained to be seen.

 

[Xeno]

Coruscant
Tags: Laphisto

Luxar | Klocto | Sword​

"I'm not a Jedi," Xeno was quick to correct. "Not all of us have the luxury of being born in the light..."

He didn't hate Jedi. Far from it. If anything, his time as an assassin had instilled upon him a respect for the Jedi Order not many had. Times without Jedi were times of great oppression and upheaval. They were a natural counterweight to the forces of evil, even if not everyone could fully comprehend things that well exceeded their lifetime.

"I'm afraid discrete is hard to get down here," the half-Nagai stated. "It doesn't get much more in-your-face than pulling a gun in and announcing your intentions to publicly execute someone. People will quickly move on with their lives. It isn't unusual."

Xeno crouched down, patting down the man in the trench coat. He was quick to procure a device of interest, a bounty fob. No doubt had a tracking device on it too. The former Sith gave it little more thought, crushing it in his hands and letting the pulverized remains fall back onto the unconscious Pyke lackie.

"My conflict with the Pykes is my own," Xeno stated. "Been terrorizing their smuggling efforts for years now. Doesn’t exactky keep a target off your back. I can't speak on wider trends of interest, should you have observed any."

But now something else was on the table, that being whatever this deal was that the large man was waiting for. Worst case scenerio, another threat to his city. Perhaps it was best he stuck around...

If not to keep an eye on things.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto listened to the man half chuckling as he shook his head arms crossing over his chest " one isn't born light or dark. One can be one then go the other way."

While the moment was ruined laphisto glanced around the cantina. Before settling his gaze on the force user before him he had no doubt that his seller was most likely gone by now which would put a hamper on plans for the order.

"Disrupting the smuggling efforts of the pykes? That's a dangerous game."

The man wasn't a former Jedi but he was definitely trained by who or what? He didn't know but it was intriguing if anything . After waiting for a few moments commlink would activate on the man's vambrace and he would answer as a holoprojector activated showing a solder of the order coming to life before speaking " the deals off sir. A message was sent for a different place to meet but the seller has left the location."

Laphisto frowned lightly giving a small nod towards the man " understood commander. "

Ending the call laphisto took a light sigh grasping at the bridge of his nose " well at least I got to see the grand sights of coruscant. Still haven't changed in the thousand years since iv last been here"

Xeno

 

[Xeno]

Coruscant
Tags: Laphisto

Luxar | Klocto | Sword
​

" one isn't born light or dark. One can be one then go the other way."

"Were it so easy."

Xeno had seen the truth. There was no light or dark. There was balance and corruption. What the Jedi called the light was the natural state of being, where all order and balance resided. The act of hunting bore no malice or hatred, nor pleasure in the act of harm. It was simply survival. The darkness was something beyond primal desire, a preversion that sought to take more than one needed. Hatred incarnate, fueled by the suffering of those around them. By nature it was to deconstruct nature, render all things dead and decaying until only one remained with ultimate power. One could not be both. To rely on pain and suffering was a crime to those it harmed, and acts of selflessness were weaker when encumbered by rage and bloodthirst.

He had been born in the dark, plain and simple. An unnatural state detached from all that is good and just. None should be forced to exist in such a state.

"So you're deal went through then," Xeno noted in a low tone. "Probably for the best. You're likely only gonna wind up getting your pockets ran down here. I suggest you go find yourself a legitimate supplier."

The former Sith sighed, throwing the unconscious thug over his shoulder. The least he could do was see the miscreant get exchanged for his bounty. He'd come back and pay for any damages later.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto chuckled softly at the suggestion, a low rumble in his chest as his arms relaxed, dropping to his sides. He cast a quick glance at the unconscious thug now slung over the man's shoulder before his multicolored eyes settled back on Xeno .

"Were it so easy," he echoed, his voice carrying a faint trace of wry humor. He gave a slight shake of his head, the motion deliberate and unhurried. "Hyperdrive components aren't exactly standard fare when you're talking about outfitting a station—a station that's been sitting dormant for over four thousand years, no less."

Laphisto's gaze lingered on the man, measuring him carefully before he continued. "If you happen to know someone who can meet those needs, then by all means, I'm all ears."

He paused for a moment, his right ear flicking subtly—a habit he hadn't quite outgrown—while the torn and jagged remains of his left ear remained motionless. He reached up, brushing a hand across the damaged appendage as he added with a faint smirk, "Or ear, rather."

The attempt at humor was brief, the weight of his thoughts returning as his smirk faded into a faint sigh. "The truth is, my Order doesn't have much in the way of credits. That's why I've resorted to places like this, shady dealings and all. But what we do have," he said, his tone sharpening with purpose, "is gear, equipment, and skilled people willing to trade for what we need. And if credits or equipment won't do it, manpower is always on the table. If you've got a vendetta to settle or a cause worth fighting for, we can provide that too."

For a moment, Laphisto's shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of his desperation creeping into his otherwise composed demeanor. The humor and charm from earlier seemed to drain away, replaced by a quiet resolve. "I don't do this lightly," he admitted, his voice lowering. "I'd rather not deal in the underworld for something this critical. But the Sith Empire and the Galactic Alliance are circling closer and closer to the Kalinda system. If they turn their attention toward us, my people won't stand a chance. We need to move—our whole station, our entire base of operations—and we can't do that without the right parts."

He took a step closer, his towering presence now unmistakably focused, though not threatening. "So if you know something—anything—that could point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. Because right now, I'm not just trying to protect a station. I'm trying to protect everyone who calls it home."

he frowned softly. feeling the weight of his position as leader. and the worry of the lives that might get caught in the cross fire. or worse yet. the major hit to moral that might occur should thier home be taken from them. or destroyed.