Compelled to Wander

[Darien Cordel]

Darien was pretty sure that the light flickering on the controls was fine ... Totally fine. Afterall it had been blinking that way for ... well Darien didn't really know certainly a few weeks.

It was evidently not fine however. That became apparent when the left thruster began to smoke and finally gave up the ghost. With a pop the thruster stopped thrusting and the ship almost fell into a rolling tail spin. Darien's stomach lurched as he fought with the controls Barely keeping his grip. Thankfully he got the ship under control and despite the struggle he did manage to struggle the crumbling star yacht into port on a small station.

The nightmare didn't end there. The repair bill was prehaps more nightmare inducing. Darien had never had to worry about money before his fathers death. Lucien Cordel had for much of his life been a man of near unimaginable wealth, the collapse of the techno union had seen off a chunck of that wealth and then the banking clans had come after the rest right before they put his father in the ground. Thankfully some money had been hidden away but it was dramatically depleting itself. One bill at a time.

In addition to being a huge expense the ship repair would also cost time. Time when Darien would be stuck in one place. A sitting duck for the banking clans. If they were even chasing him ... truthfully he didn't know where he stood or even much of what had happened to drag him into this situation.

Now he was sat drinking whiskey ... which he hated ... in the station bar. That might have been his first stroke of luck his fake ID worked. he was spinning a matt on the bar the extent of his grasp of the force. True to Cordel form it was no great show of power, however unlike his father this truely was the extent of his power.

 

[Lief]

╫ O U T E R ~ R I M ╫​

COMPELLED TO WANDER​

The journey to Mustafar had proven far longer than he'd anticipated... of course, the pilot's desire to stop whenever he could played a key factor in such. Throughout their travels he couldn't help but wonder whether he ought to inform [member='Darth Sibilus'] of his underling's incompetence, his time wasting, after all he was technically on the clock right now where he sat drinking mandalorian whiskey in the star-lounge of some random station, but then Valin did not know his Master's stance on such. Their time together hadn't revealed whether he was a stickler for such things... and truthfully, the boy did not want to be known as some sort of tattletale.

But then, would he find himself in trouble if he didn't speak up?

Such were the conundrums he faced as he sat on the other end of the lounge and watched the various faces pass by. Truly he had never seen so many alien faces before, and to look upon them now was almost dizzying. Of course he had read of many species in the Galaxy, and he had seen a few on his travels down to Altier, but the fact remained that Valin had been raised among a xenophobic, distinctly human culture. Or, near-human at the very least. It was something he was trying to remedy, but it wasn't easy going that was for sure.

The pilot seemed... preoccupied. There was some blue woman in his lap, she didn't have hair but she did have strange protrusions which hung down the way in which it should. Lekku, he believed they were called, and he was sure she was a twi'lek if his studies had amounted to anything. Valin rolled his eyes at the basic nature of the man, before using the moment he had to slip toward the bar while he was unsupervised.

"Captain Durren sent me to get another glass of whiskey," he lied, rather smoothly given the fact that his nerves were rather shot. He handed over some of the credits he'd been sent out into the Galaxy with, intended for any essentials he might require, and waited. Much to his luck, the bartender understood who he was talking about and - after casting a glance toward the man's admittedly shallow glass - slid him across a fresh glass of whiskey.

The boy smiled, and turned to merge into the crowd. Of course he headed vaguely into Durren's direction to begin with, but once he felt certain the bartenders eyes were off his back he slipped into a seat in one of the darker corners and let out a tiny breath of relief.

Of course, what he hadn't expected was that the seemingly empty booth was in fact taken up by a blonde haired boy almost of an age with him.

Valin sniffed the air, and smelled whiskey on the boy. Figuring that he wasn't going to cause a scene, he used the moment as an excuse to take a sip of his own and quickly blew out a breath of hot air when it stung the back of his throat. He'd tried it before, of course, back on Serenno. Tyric had kept all sorts of concoctions around, and in his absence Valin had access to much of what he'd wanted. Still, this variety was certainly more... potent.

He didn't say anything, though he did cast a curious glance over the body of the boy. His face, expression, and even down to his clothes. Weighing him up, almost. A light smile formed on his lips then, apparently liking what he saw, and he decided to remain put unless the other boy had anything to say about that.

Maybe even if he did.

[member="Darien Cordel"]

 

[Darien Cordel]

The veiw from the booth was of the fiery, imposing surfaace of mustafar. Prehaps the last place he would want to be so hot and dangerous and yet ... would anyone ever look for him there ? He could sink the failing yacht into the lava and never be traced again. Live out his life in a cave or something and eat ... What would he eat? Darien barely knew how to cook when food was plentiful never mind when he had to find his own. He was still adapting to a life without servants. Prehaps a life in a cave on Mustafar was not for him. which left the question of where to go pretty open.

Ofcourse the way his ship was going it might well sink itself in the lava all on it's own.

All around him a variety of species moved , each represented a planet, one that could be his new home. Would he fit in on any of those planets or stand out too much? He couldn't afford to stand out it would be death. He would probably need to find a planet with a large human presence. He could blend then, give up his name and hide away . He supposed he would need to find work which posed another conunderum. What could Darien do ? He had been trained to follow his father as a diplomat but that was out of the question now.

He couldn't reveal his details either. No education papers, nothing at all. Who would hire him without wanting those things. Certainly no one legitimate. No one who would pay well. Prehaps in a few weeks he'd be bussing tables in a dive bar. How far he had fallen. He would never have thought he'd ever have to do that sort of work. He was a Cordel, they were meant to be leaders.

Darien took another gulp of whiskey. He would think on his problems later. As much later as he possibly could. Tonight he would be a rich boy one more day. He would drink his whiskey like it was pilfered from his dads office. poured from a crystal decanter instead of a bottle. Imagine himself in his dads chair by the fire instead of in this booth.

The boy smiled, and turned to merge into the crowd. Of course he headed vaguely into Durren's direction to begin with, but once he felt certain the bartenders eyes were off his back he slipped into a seat in one of the darker corners and let out a tiny breath of relief.

Darien's eyes were closed, He was back in his father's house. Back in his place of safety. There was a small tear in his eye as he remembered his family and his old life. Then it was done.

His eyes opened and where the space before him had been empty just moments before there was now an imposing looking ... teenage boy.

Darien sort of froze up in fear when he saw. Who was this man ? why was he here ? how would he kill Darien ? All important and strssful questions. The man was talking , which was only adding to the fear he was causing In Darien. He just watched the dark haired man as he drank. The other man was about his age but he seemed older than Darien. Darien could conceed he was not quite as grown up as others of his years.

Silence dragged on as eyes toured over Darien. Sizing him up. Darien braced for something to happen , anything. He had not expected a smile though. Warm , appreciative. Almost like desire for something. Could it be that he was not here to hunt Darien ... was he just here to be freindly or something more.

"Errm ... Hello " He finally stammered out

 

[Lief]

So close...

They were so damn close, yet Durren had made them wait here all the same. It was almost enough to make his blood boil with frustration, not unakin to how the fiery surface of Mustafar might bubble and boil below, but then at least he hadn't been told to stay on the ship, or in some randomly rented room, like a child. No, he was allowed to roam as much as the Captain... Likely due to neglect as much as an attempt at befriending the boy, but Valin would take it for now.

Now that he was seated, and had his little glass of whiskey to boot, he realized that he'd made quite the nervous mess of the boy he was sharing a booth with. Valin knew how it was to feel such anxieties, he'd faced them when he was sent to study with the Jedi, and again when Tyric got his grubby paws on him. It was strange, in truth, because he hadn't felt the same level of nerves when [member='Darth Sibilus'] came into the picture, though perhaps that was because he was grasping onto life. There wasn't much else you could fear when looking death in the face...

"Hello," the boy finally responded, tone much more confident than the blondes. He leaned back in his seat and took another burning sip of alcohol, this time managing not to react so strongly to its taste. His eyes fell over the bar, searching briefly for the Captain and finding the Twi'lek wrapped around him. It was going to be a long night, then, he may as well get comfortable.

After a few seconds he returned his gaze back to Darien and what had been a rather harsh glare toward Durren relaxed into a somewhat coy smile.

"What's a nice boy like yourself doing all alone?"

[member="Darien Cordel"]

 

[Darien Cordel]

Looking over the man before him it was clear that his boy was wealthy in ways Darien had once been and something in his eyes said that he was poor in a way Darien felt he should recognise. There was the lingering reflection of the pain of being sent away that Darien felt he ought to see in himself. There had been a time when Darien had felt that pain but he didn't remember that. Father had seen to that when he was still a powerful man. when his power was so much that he could all but turn back the hands of time.

Seeing that pain gave darien a funny sort of heartache ...

The other man didn't seem effected by that feeling of abandonment, he rang with confidence that filled the room and made Darien feel like he was pressed against the booth cushions. It was not the first time Darien had felt this way before and he would feel that way again he was sure. Prehaps more whiskey would make his ego expand slightly and he could feel less pressed up.

1..2...3 Drink, God whiskey was abysmal

There was something strange in the coy grin that morphed from Valin's glare around the room. Darien would give him one thing he could give one heck of a death gaze.

Then came a damn terrifying question. What was Darien doing here ? what was he doing alone? He squirmed in the booth, He couldn't tell the truth could he. Reveal that he was and why he was running. This savage boy would tear him to peices and sell him off. He could trust no one. To trust was to die. He had to think fast. Shifting himself in the booth and trying to look alittle taller, a little coyer ...

He spoke

"Alone?" He asked trying to sound ... jovial, Blaise , anything but scared. "Who said I was alone?" He asked and then he leant forward ... that is what secure people, did they lent "I'm here on a trek across the galaxy , see what I can before I follow my father's foot steps " It was not a lie.

"What about you button up ... " Button up where did that come from? "... what brings you to this bar?"

 

[Lief]

The boy was overcompensating for something in the way he maneuvered himself around a response, though Valin decided it would be improper, and even rude of him, to point that fact out. Let him have his secrets for now, the truth always had a way of burrowing to the surface no matter how hard you might try to keep it suppressed. And in truth this was only a brief pitstop, and after this... Well... the likelihood of them seeing one another again was slim to none.

So he shrugged his shoulders, and sloshed the contents of his glass around in absent thought.

"I mean, you are sat alone. Or were... I suppose you aren't any longer."

Another sip of whiskey, this time he didn't even really feel the burn at all. He could see how people drank this stuff, though he did hope it wouldn't be a habit he continued with. Something told him it was costly to upkeep, and from the state he'd seen Durren in several times on their journey, well, it made far more messes than it fixed. It looked as though the other boy at the table wasn't enjoying it so much either... Must've been searching for a little bit of control, or a way to rebel, just as Valin was then. Force knew he needed it.

"Seeing the Galaxy? An ambitious goal; One I wish you luck with. I attempted similar, once upon a time." in a way he supposed that dream was still continuing, just not necessarily with as many freedoms as he'd prefer. Durren wasn't even the worst of it, though he did suppose it was more to keep him safe than anything else.

"Me? Not by choice, I'll tell you that much." He laughed it off, though his eyes fell back toward the damn Captain a few moments later and his brows furrowed into a very subtle frown. "I'm on my way somewhere... In fact, I was supposed to be there already. My pilot likes to stop wherever he can, I think he believes he'll get paid more if he does but that's simply not the truth."

[member="Darien Cordel"]

 

[Darien Cordel]

Overcompensation, Darien would kick himself if he knew he was being so obvious. He knew his father had given his own life so that Darien could leave with his and he was doing his best to make sure his life was not cut short. He was not sure how he was meant to act when he wasn't just being himself though. Someone had always gaurded Darien , he didn't know how to gaurd himself but he needed to learn fast.

Thankfully, he passed the probing without prompting any more. A victory to his money.

"I suppose I was , I was not expecting company tonight "

He made no comment on wether now being in the presence of company was a welcome development. Mainly because he hadn't decided yet. On the one hand he felt unsafe to be the subject of attention on the otherhand though talking to a person of his age and class felt ... normal. The first normal thing he'd done in weeks. The whiskey was something he'd decided on though, it was not for him. As great a feeling as having obtained it was it felt like hell going down his throat.

"It is isn't it" He chuckled at the response to his dream "I will proably need the luck , what made you give up your attempt ?" He asked settling slightly now that he wasn't really talking about who he was or how alone he was. If Darien were to guess on the answer to his own question he'd assume it had something to do with the pilot Valin kept staring daggers at.

A secound laugh met Valin's fustration at being confined in the bar "If I ever get kidnapped I hope I am held hostage in a bar like you " he teased. Ofcourse if Darien were ever kidnapped he was pretty certain it would not be to a bar , atleast not one like this. Valin looked so petchulant and sour Crix didn't know if he aught to be amused or feel sorry for him "Good staff are hard to find, if you are right though and he will not be paid extra he'll get his cumuppance for delaying you" Father had always given unscrupulous staff short shrift when they tried to extarct a bigger fee.