Choice Is An Illusion

[Arekk]

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LITHIOS​

Ethos City Downtown, Larkell's Bar ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Cinara Vencu"] ​

Larkell's Bar is just a collection of sad stories. The original owner, a Rodian named Kirvel, thought the place was haunted based on strange lights seen in the back alley. Turned out the lights were just luminous phosphorescence from a combination of decaying garbage and trace chemicals in the air on bad smog nights.

Kirvel’s oldest kid, Larkell, runs the place these days, but it’s still like a rest home for down-and-out homeless people and street-types looking to drink and forget.

That includes a few former slicers, in fact, so some individuals see Larkell's Bar as a recruiting hall for suicide missions. Some of the patrons are willing to take them, hoping to score big or go out in a blaze of glory.

And as usual, Ar'ekk was sitting down in another grimey bar with a glass of Corellian ale resting on his dominant hand in an attempt to drown his sorrows. He couldn't forget but one day there would be a reason to move on, finally...

But what?

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[Samara Raine]

Ethos City, Lithios
Downtown, Larkell's Bar
w/[member="Arekk"]
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Cinara couldn't decide if she liked the rain or not. The almost constant drizzle falling on the bustling planet could be seen as depressing yet it was beautifully refreshing too from a certain point of view. Most of the time, the Mando didn't pay too much attention to the weather as she wore her sand-gold beskar'gam; with the buy'ce in place and suit of armor sealed from the outside world it wasn't a factor in her day to day activities for the most part.

But for tonight, a night out as any other would might have while visiting a new place, there would be no hint of her being a Mando'ad nor even the woman's trade. The grease and grim from beneath the mechanic's nails and hands had been scrubbed away. She had decided upon an outfit that would blend in with the metropolitan night life of Ethos City. Ci's plan was just to have fun for a bit, let her hair down a little so to speak before she headed back to Kal'Shebbol and to the wild grind in the Kathol Sector of the Outer Rim territories.

Earlier in the day Cinara had ventured into the underground black market in full Mandalorian fashion looking for a certain elusive part for a rare, old ship she was fixing up for a well-paying client. After her successful negotiations for the found item, she had gone back to her own ship docked at the spaceport. Finding it was late in the day to begin another journey back along the hyperspace lane of Crusader's Way, a stay over was in order. Plus, she had barely gotten to see the better parts of the city, but there was no way the blue-eyed, blonde was going to the Red Light-Entertainment sector by herself for some personal enjoyment.

So after getting a few names of bars and clubs in the more upper class downtown area that she might appreciate from a fellow spacer, Cinara hailed a hovertaxi to take her to the first one on the list. A few credits were given to the driver, then the tall, sandy blonde dashed across the sidewalk so not to get too wet and into Larkell's Bar. The establishment was dark inside with red background for illumination. Interesting...

Walking up to the main bar, she slipped onto an empty stool and flashed a small smile at the bartender.

"I'll have a Corellian ale, please," Ci ordered, then peered around casually at the other patrons that were there while waiting on the drink; most of the males were interacting with holographic females. Men?!

Her sky blue gaze picked out one that surprisingly wasn't enthralled in the beauties doing their thing before him sitting rather glumly over at a table. He sported a facial scar like hers... though on the other side. Bet that has a good story behind it...

Course, Cinara drank to forget how she had received hers all those years ago by the hand of someone who was supposed to love her.

 

[Arekk]

LITHIOS​

Ethos City Downtown, Larkell's Bar ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Cinara Vencu"] ​

The way one can see it, there’s two types of people: those who spend their lives trying to build a future, and those who spend their lives trying to rebuild the past. For too long Ar'ekk was stuck in between, hidden in the dark. He'd been sitting at the bar for three hours, or one year depending on how you looked at things. He tried not to look at things.

Tried not to think about when it was that his existence became less about the things that make up people's lives and more about the holes that losing those things leave behind. But he wasn't doing a very good job at it. Drinking your sorrows was a bad idea, but, in the absence of any good ideas, he continued forward.

From the corner of his eyes, Ar'ekk spotted someone that look too stunning to be a Lithios-born woman. An outfit out of this galaxy that screamed status, fierce look on her eyes that demonstrated confidence and a voice that didn't crack when trying to order a drink. Tell anyone this and they'll say you were having a dream.

"Make that two. Put it on my tab."

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[Samara Raine]

Cinara took a flimsy napkin from a stack on the bar top and dabbed her face and visible bare chest gently with it to remove any moisture collected from the trip in from outside.

This is when she sensed someone sliding in beside her at the counter before actually seeing who it was... And much to the blonde's pleasant surprise it was the man with the scar.

She turned her golden head towards him and met the dark-haired fella's blue eyes with her own. A soft smile played at the corner's of her pale berry-glossed lips. The Mando usually didn't wear much makeup, but tonight she braved a bit to accent her good features like her eyes. She could never completely cover her facial disfigurement, but one could smooth over the jagged, diagonal scar that went from her left temple, top of the eye area, then again to the inner cheek. Luck had been with her that dreadful night as a pair of goggles worn had saved her eyesight.

"Why thank you... Is this a regular spot for you to relax in? Or are you just stopping by for a drink on your way onward?" she asked out of curiously as the bartender placed their drinks down in front of them.

[member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

LITHIOS​

Ethos City Downtown, Larkell's Bar ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Cinara Vencu"] ​

"Just stopping by for a drink. It's not a common thing."

Liar.

No matter how hard he tried, spewing such meaningless words were always difficult but he didn't care as long as he didn't have to remember anything. To be honest, Ar'ekk did not remember most days after six because he picked up a short habit of drinking until he blacked out for days. Something to be proud of? Totally not. Did he make the attempt to get out of this whole? Yes, still trying.

The astonishing beautiful lady sitting to his side had a similar scar to the one present on his right side, going in a horizontal line and skipping his eyeball. Marks of war, totally. Maybe she had an interesting story to hear and he wasn't a bad listener, it'd be a nice thing for a change to hear instead of talking.

Exchanging glances with Cinara, Ar'ekk playfully inquired further.

"How about you?"

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[Samara Raine]

"Ah, I see... " Ci nodded to [member="Arekk"] with a knowing look, then she put her hands around the chilled ale, leaving them there for the moment as the coolness felt good.

"Same," the blonde answered with a soft smile this time, then she raised the bottle to her pale pink lips and took a sip of the amber liquid slowly.

The Mando's response was true from a certain point of view though; Cinara did stop by for a drink, and it wasn't a common spot for her to relax in, well at least not on this planet. Back on Kal'Shebbol, the mechanic definitely had a stool with her name on it at a cantina not too far from the hangar she worked in.

There was something that told her he wasn't quite being straight up with her, but everyone had their secrets. It could also be just part of the man's pick up game too. Would she play if it was? Time would only tell. He was intriguing.

"This bar has an interesting feel to it especially with the red, background lighting, don't you think? What do you think the owner's thinking was behind the choice for a decor color? Unusual, well from what I've seen in other places."

 

[Arekk]

LITHIOS​

Ethos City Downtown, Larkell's Bar ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Cinara Vencu"] ​

"Maybe he was catering to those seeking for some company and cannot deal with actual social interactions. That's why they talk to a hologram instead of a real woman."

He released a brief laugh as he held onto the glass of Corellian ale, tasting the sour liquid for a moment as it traveled down his throat. The place was strange to the common eye considering it was luxurious, for people of certain circles and if you looked around you'd quickly realize the patrons were big in terms of mass and enjoyed to just scream and act like they owned the world but couldn't dare to make eye contact with a girl.

Having Cinara here actually made them move away from the main room and scoot to the far side with their booze and food, hushed tones judging her every move and possibly the provocative attire she had tonight. One that Ar'ekk had been discreetly looking without being too disrespectful.

"I'm Ar'ekk."

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[Samara Raine]

"Well, you don't seem to have a problem with it, and I'm glad. I promise I won't bite, much," Ci quipped lightly, then took another sip of ale.

That is when she noticed the bar side had less patrons sitting at it than before. Maybe this would be a one drink only stop then. Better for her night out on the town experience and more so for those already there, who preferred their way of social interaction. The Mando was definitely more of the real kind of deal type, and not that she was xenophobic or anything... She preferred human men too. It was just the way Grease Monkey liked it.

"Cinara... It's nice to meet you, [member="Arekk"]," the blonde smiled softly, then she pulled out a piece of paper from her leather jacket pocket. There was a written list of other bars and clubs in the area on it.

"I've not been to any of these before. Care to tour them with me? Well not all of them of course... but perhaps check out a couple before nights end? Do you have a preference as you appear to know more about Ethos City than I do?"

 

[Arekk]

LITHIOS​

Ethos City Downtown, Larkell's Bar ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Cinara Vencu"] ​

"Maybe I'm into that, who knows?"

Leaving his empty glass aside for the bartender to retrieve and fill up one last time, Ar'ekk looked at Cinara one more time as she retrieved a piece of paper from the inner pocket of her jacket. Giving it a brief read and quickly memorizing the names written on the paper, Ar'ekk proceeded to nod firmly.

"If that means we'll get drunk on each visit, then I'm game. The first one's not too far from here and it's a lot nicer than this one. Luxurious."

Necking his drink with one long gulp, Ar'ekk set the glass forcefully on the counter and grimaced at the sour taste of the liquor. He was already feeling the effects of alcohol kicking into his system already and mixed with that came a cancer stick on their way out.

Showing Cinara out by holding the door for her like a true gentleman, they'd finally be on the cold streets of Ethos City with the city being their companion as always.

"Come on."

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