Drastic Times

[Taheera Sollo]

Nar Shadda

Berry's Bar

Practice, practice, practice, something Jedi Master Avalore Eden had instilled in the clone. What better way than to volunteer at a street-clinic on one of the most shadiest planets in the system? She was either bold or naive, maybe a little of both. She had expected the volume of patients but she hadn't expected the lack of supplies to back that volume up.

The bacta patches ran out first.

It was the only reason she found herself stepping into the gloom of a local bar. She needed alcohol and lots of it. Squeezing and pushing through the patrons, she fought her way to the bar. It was clear the chestnut haired woman didn't belong. A Trandoshian shoved her aside and she stumbled back into a Barabel.

"Hey pink-skin sugar," the rumble left the reptilian mouth.

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Dusty blonde hair, blue eyes, hard eyes. They signified the truth of the entire matter, and the truth was that Khal belonged here. Was more at home here than he ever had been anywhere else. The seedy den, the streets that ended and began in shady corners, it was as water for the metaphorical fish. But that didn't mean he had to lose himself in the ways of the streets, perhaps it simply meant that he should bring some of that old fashion civilization and civility to the streets.

'Leave her alone, Dob.' stern voice, hard voice. Same as the eyes, the years had been so-and-so for Khal. A bit worn, tired maybe just a little bit, but the most pronounced difference was that he seemed... more. More a man, less a warm kid with a smile for everyone. But perhaps that was for the better, only the gods knew how that kid had survived the streets.

Khal gestured towards Sollo for her to follow him. Still a White Paladin saving women from danger, perhaps not everything changed after all.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

The barabel hissed or laughed, the healer wasn't sure, before releasing her wrist. Myrtle-ellipses leveled on those hard, blue eyes before recognition dawned on her face. "Malvern," the ebb of bodies in the small space that was clearly in breach of fire code restrictions pushed her closer to the white paladin until her shoulder brushed against his.

Surprise intoned the way she spoke his name. They had flown in a squadron together, jumped off roofs together, and she wasn't surprised to find him here. She was surprised to find him now.

She made no move to follow him, though the crowds pushed them closer together, an elbow banged against her back.

"Wait. I need...alcohol and lots of it."

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

Regular people would have met in a library, maybe meet up at class or perhaps during one too many drink in some bar. But not those two, no they weren't exactly normal people. First meeting had them pitching against a military machine ala the Fringe, first meeting had him saving her for the first time. Second meeting had them jumping off roofs to learn how to parkour on this world. Should tell ya something about the crowd these people probably mixed with.

Whilst Solo had problems walking, or getting from A to B in this joint, Khal had an easier time. Mostly because the crowd was almost naturally parting for him, some would say there was a magic buzz in the air. But others, the more reasonable people would note that he simply had one of those reputations.

Hard eyes, hard voice, hard names.

That was what Nar Shaddaa dealt with in spades, no? He turned out slightly, looking over his shoulder. God, she was still beautiful, but Khal was no little jumping kid anymore. Used to be he was confident and cool only during missions, well... life was one big mission these days. Or so it seemed.

'I own this joint.' neutral expression, it didn't give away anything. 'Come, you will get plenty of drinks.'

Then he resumed his lazy, yet purposeful thread towards one of the backrooms.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

"Why am I not surprised, Khaleel?" She had to speak a little louder to be heard above the din. She found if she stuck close to his side, the likelihood of an elbow knock or shoulder shove went down to about a fifteen percent level. She didn't hesitate to follow him.

She was a healer headed toward a more advanced track. She worked with people all day, which made her a natural reader of what people were dealing with below the surface. But she didn't need any of that to know that Khaleel had changed since their first meeting and even more so since their second.

Myrtle-ellipses noted their track even as they approached a door on the opposite wall to the front. She followed the paladin inside, her trust in who she thought he was never wavering. Or perhaps it was her trust in herself.

 

[Arage Bao]

Her trust, whether trust in a man that had saved her life once upon a time or trust in herself as a competent women who need no man taking care of, was repaid without irony as she followed Khal into the room. No ugly surprises awaited her there, just a comfortable lounging area with a round table and a few empty seats.

The smoldering cigarettes and playing cards still littered the table and suggested that it had been a cozy night for the Paladin and his companions before her arrival.

Regardless the room was empty right now besides Khaleel who was busy pouring both of them a strong drink and the healer herself. Walking over to the table he settled down, indicating towards the seat in front of him for her so sit down.

His own drink in hand icy orbs did not leave her eyes.

'Lost the way home, Dinglehopper?' He still seemed to be using the fighter name he had come up with all that time ago, yet the name did nothing to curb the distinct feeling that Khal wasn't exactly happy with her being here.

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

Cards, cigarettes with the lingering of smoke in the air, her eyes swept the room as she adjusted to the new surroundings. The roar from the crowded room was well maintained on the other side, making Khaleel's voice seem louder than it was in the smaller space. Her drink remained untouched as she perched on the edge of the seat he indicated.

The healer studied him quietly. He seemed more on edge in here than he had been with his peers out there. She sensed something deeper in him but her expression remained unfazed as myrtle-ellipses locked against ice-blue in the din of that back room.

"No, I'm right where I'm supposed to be Khal..eel." Even though they had done some pretty extraordinary things together, she found that she couldn't be informal with him. At least not yet.

"There's a free street clinic I've been working at for those below the FPL. Our supplies have taken a hit." He might notice the start of dark circles beneath her eyes. Lots of work and lack of sleep. She just needed to push herself a little further, work a little harder....

"I need a short term solution for the lack of antiseptic. Alcohol seemed like a good back up. I wasn't kidding when I said I needed a lot of drinks. Don't worry, I can pay you too." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

"For long term...I'll need to start digging to see what's happening to our supplies between point A and point B."

She shrugged. She didn't have a plan for that yet but her jaw was set with a determined edge.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

He was the Underlord of Nar Shaddaa, the man with the plan, his word was law in the Underworld and few if any even dared to stand in his way these days. But Khal’s public face was a simple barkeep, a simple bar, a few connections here and there. Nothing too special and that was exactly how the man had liked it, keeping the Underlord in the shadows.

More safe that way, definitely when ya get caught with your breeches down like now. But the point was this, the situation she was laying down on him right now got his attention, problem was… he had to tread carefully here, make sure that it would be done properly.

‘Free Clinic’ Khal smoothly transitioned, not showing his background thoughts on the matter for now, he pondered visibly for a few more moments. ‘Where ya work?’

Probably could have snapped his fingers and fix the entire problem for her here and now, but that wouldn’t have been the smart choice. Would only have attracted attention on him, and that was the last thing he needed right now.

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

She was surprised by his curiosity. "Sixty-third and Seventh West. Urgent Care Center or the U.C.C. Walk-able distance from here." The man in front of her was definitely more than he seemed. But why did she get the feeling he was in more trouble than she was? She leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees. She may be naive in some things but she wasn't stupid.

"What's going on Khaleel? Why do I get the feeling you can do more than sell me alcohol?"

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Taheera Sollo"]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Who are you talking to right now? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Who is it you think you see? Do you know how much I make a year? I mean, even if I told you, you wouldn't believe it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Do you know what would happen if I suddenly decided to stop going into work? A business big enough that it could be listed on the IGBC Exchange goes belly up. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]Disappears! It ceases to exist without me. No, you clearly don't know who you're talking to, so let me clue you in. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]I am not in danger, Sollo. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]No. [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]I am the one who knocks[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px].[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]As Khaleel settled down in his seat, pushed over a drink to her and took his own in his hands he saw it in her eyes. It was worry, it was the expectation that she was seeing a friend in trouble and need, a part of him wanted to jump up and say all of what had just flashed through his mind.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]But quoting a tv series wouldn’t resolve any situations.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.6666666666667px]“I could poke around.” the scoundrel said and then shrugged a little. “Might be to [/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px]convince[/SIZE][SIZE=10.6666666666667px] people to stop paying attention to your medical supplies.”[/SIZE]

 

[Taheera Sollo]

[member="Khaleel Malvern"]

She pulled away. He had a mask on and the healer could sense it would take extraordinary circumstances for him to take it off. Perhaps he'd never take it off in front of her. If he wanted to keep things professional, she could do that and stay in business-mode.

"Okay. Sounds like you can help in the long-run. I still have a problem of getting the supplies we need right now."

Her drink remained untouched on the table.

"What do you want in return for all this anyway?"

Slight pause.

"I have a feeling you'll let me know." The healer stood, boldly grabbed a bottle of unopened whiskey, and left to head back to the clinic. The bottle would last through the night. Enough to kill the infections until the bacta started coming in again.