Everybody Dies In The Summer (So Pray For A Little More Spring)

[Laura Na'Varro]

Nar Shaddaa​

​

*Crack*

With her senses heightened by the Force, Laura could feel the big man's blood spray onto her fist as his nose shattered. His knees buckled slightly. Laura could sense weakness, and like any Na'Varro, she moved to finish the job. A push sent the man sprawling into a duracrete wall. He sat up just in time to meet her fist. One, two, three punches directly to the face, and down he went, this time for good. Laura stared at the blood on her fist for a second, seemingly in shock, but then her eyes snapped back to the concussed man who lay at her feet. She was half his size ... how comical this must have looked. Without any hair to grab (he was bald), she instead grabbed him by the collar and pulled his face this close to hers. Fierce eyes stared through his, dazed and confused as they were. He was out of it.

"Now. Where is he?" she hissed.

"Whu-?" His voice was no longer the gruff one that she had encountered before. He kind of sounded like a baby. She slapped him across the face.

"Where is Aran Na'Varro?" Her jaw was set. Determined.

"Neos ... he's on Neos."

"What the heck is Neos?" Quizzical, nose wrinkled slightly. Like a child, or a teenager. Not like a warrior capable of taking down grown men without taking a scratch.

"Dunno. Jus' gimme some watah.." Laura dropped him in disgust. The blood felt heavy on her hand, so she hastily wiped it on the front of her clothes. She looked down at the man. His face was a mess. She had done that. Her face began to lose feeling as she staggered out of the alleyway, nausea rising in her gut. She felt sick. She felt wrong. Another two steps, and she reached the corner of the alleyway, propped herself against it with her hand, and threw her guts up against the wall.

[member="Micah Talith"]

 

[Micah Talith]

"I hope that Nuna egg and Dantooine Turkey omelet was good."

The voice would float over to Laura with certain playful familiarity, lighthearted and friendly. "Cause it must not taste all that great coming back up!" Two legs and a shrouded form would crouch down beside [member="Laura Na'Varro"], revealing the half hidden visage of one Micah Talith within the swaths of a dark green hooded cloak and a slate gray scarf he'd tugged down and under his chin.

While his words held a note of sarcastic amusement, his actions were far more gentler. Dark tanned Terentaktek leather gloved hands would reach out to the young girl, sweeping her hair away from her face mid retch.

While his expression would seem to maintain usual lightly amused and inquisitive lackadaisical flair, the burnished orange of his eyes would tell another tale entirely. He was concerned. Worried as much as he was perplexed. His sudden appearance would likely be a shock and surprise, but considering how inquisitive - nosy - he was, seeing Laura act odd and a bit more withdrawn than her usual self inspired the teenager to take a closer look.

What he found made him glad he did.

He had questions, but those would come later. Right now, the only thing he'd say is, "Alright, breathe Cricket. I know breakfast doesn't smell as delicious splattered all over the wall, but at least you won't be dry heaving."

 

[Laura Na'Varro]

Fifteen years old and dry heaving against a wall on Nar Shaddaa. Laura was not your average teenager. Most in the galaxy never got the opportunity or the privilege.

"I hope that Nuna egg and Dantooine Turkey omelet was good. Cause it must not taste all that great coming back up!"

She hadn't sensed him coming, which made this all the worse. She liked Micah. He was friendly, and had been kind enough to notice her back when they were twelve, when most others didn't. Sure he could be annoying ... and nosy, clearly, but well, she liked him. This made the situation worse. Laura did not want anyone following her, anyone seeing her this way. And Micah? Laura started to feel sick again. There was always a chance he wouldn't like her if he knew what she was up to. So her response was nothing, just another heave in the wall's direction. She noted his gloved hand brushing her hair out of the way as she puked; the kindness made her feel shame.

"Alright, breathe Cricket. I know breakfast doesn't smell as delicious splattered all over the wall, but at least you won't be dry heaving."

Laura's face tightened in a frown, her brow furrowed and her eyes took on the look of determination mixed with ... something else entirely. Something sinister, and definitely not like the 'Cricket' Micah knew.

"Micah, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice hard and tinged with a range of emotions, among them shame and annoyance.

[member="Micah Talith"]

 

[Micah Talith]

Well wasn't she an interesting cocktail of emotions?

Micah was no empath, that sole talent was left to John Hunt and Mara, what with their Zeltron genetics. He did, however, have a knack with the Lorrdian Kinetic language, a skill taught to all the Talith children by his mother. While his sisters picked up on the skill, Micah by far was the most adept, learning how to interpret the body language of others to determine their emotional state and intentions with uncanny accuracy.

Laura was buzzing with all kinds of emotions then. Shame. Annoyance. Irritation. Okay, he could deal with the latter two of the three. He was a pro at that. It was the former that made him quizzingly study the girl. That edge in her voice that confirmed his nagging suspicion on why he tracked her in the first place.

Especially when coupled with a hardness in her eyes that was unlike Cricket at all.

"I decided to take in the scenery," he would quip out, "Stop by the Promenade, stock up on my stash of fake identi-cards." The corner of his mouth would quirk up, his voice a half tease. His eyes on the other hand, were probing, searching. Analysing.

"How about you?" He gave a nod towards her bloody knuckles, " looking to join the local underground shockbox ring?" Oh he knew exactly that wasn't the case; the bloody mess of the face Laura had left behind on the guy she took a pummeling too made that clear.

"I'd place my bet on you, you've a right hook that could knock anyone on their ass." he told her impishly, tugging at the scarf around his neck, loosening it up with a pull.

He would offer it up to her to wipe her mouth clean.

 

[Laura Na'Varro]

Like a gentleman, Micah offered her his scarf. Like a lady, Laura declined and instead spat to the side. Sometimes, her genetic code being exactly the same as that of her father really showed. And as usual, Micah talked and talked and talked. It was hard not to soften up somewhat ... at her most furious, Laura could never stay angry for long and no one could stay angry at Micah, period. Her facial expression softened somewhat and she straightened, matching the boy's searching eyes with her own. He was analysing her, trying to figure out her secrets. Her eyes met his, with the sole intention of locking in place. She hated it when he did that.

Then he complimented her in a way only a girl like Laura could appreciate. And gorram it, she blushed a little. Now he was making her feel stupid. What was there to worry about with Micah? He was nice ... he didn't mean any harm.

"Shut up, Micah." She didn't mean it, and she couldn't help the small smile that escaped her.

To compensate, she turned away and towards the main street, where scoundrels, scumbags and assorted vagrants of all species busied about. Their objective? Survival.

"You shouldn't have followed me."

[member="Micah Talith"]

 

[Micah Talith]

He gave a shrug at her declining the scarf, looping it around his neck while his hands held the ends at chest level. With a swagger that denoted a notable amount of lackadaisical flair, Micah would follow in pursuit. His long legs could easily overtake her shorter strides, but he reckoned she had a mighty pressing need to feel as if she was the one leading -- or more to the point, as if she was in charge and in control.

Which she was. Laura was her own person with her own ideas and notes of stubbornness, but Micah knew that she wasn't vicious. She was quiet. Shy, yes. But there was always more than met the eye when it came to her.

"You say following, I say taking a walk with a friend," He'd say with a impish quip, tucking his hands into his pockets as they went stepping out into the riot of color that was Nar Shaddaa's promenade. Jokes he might be making, but it was clear that Laura was not going to lose Micah anytime soon. Few ever could.

He'd always find them.

They passed a few Gamorreans in full armor, past some glitbiters to the right. Stim sellers to the left. While he kept an eye on Laura, he took made note of their surroundings.

"So, now what happens next after passing your shockboxing trial?" he'd ask, aware that her answer would likely not be what he really wanted to know. But it was about taking small steps. Winding her down. She was running hot on adrenaline and after spewing her guts, likely needed a drink.

He'd catch the sign of a cantina, the multicolored bright neon lights flickering cobolt, canary, and hot pink into the smoggy night.

"Come on, let's get something to drink. I'm thirsty." he wasn't, but he figured Laura would follow if she felt it had to be for him.

 

[Laura Na'Varro]

"Now you're taking a walk with a friend, not before." Laura, ever the stickler for accuracy. She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Sheesh."

Out they went onto the street, passing all manner of colourful sorts. Drug dealers, pushers, sharks and the like, all working to make ends meet. Laura thought that some would jump at the chance for a normal life ... only some. Most were fully indoctrinated into the system. Addicted to the hood, they'd always come back for more until it consumed them completely. The teenage girl looked up at Micah. He was much taller than her; she heard that was a family trait. Laura was of a more average height. Five foot six and unlikely to grow much taller.

"So, now what happens next after passing your shockboxing trial?" Laura shot Micah a look. Gorram it, Micah. Stay out of it! Instead of saying that, she arched an eyebrow at him and grinned. The smile didn't quite reach her eyes; she had a lot on her mind, and deceit was never her strong point.

"A trial? Hardly.." she said, and aimed a playful punch at his belly. After being around Micah for a while now, she felt comfortable enough around him to come out of her shell and be a little playful. Even if this time it was more directed at deflecting his question than anything else.

She followed Micah into the cantina agreeably enough. After all, he was thirsty. She could take enough time to make him a bit more complacent, and then slip away when he wasn't paying attention. She didn't want him seeing what she was going to do next.

"You're paying, though." She smiled winningly.

I have to. For Dad. For my family.

 

[Micah Talith]

They were greeted by a thick haze of smoke and the blare of Bith band music. There was a notable amount of cheer, with the low murmur of conversation followed by the occasional guffaw and boisterous laughter. It was crowded, with all manner of sapient life as this particular watering hole's patrons.

"Try not to get lost, bug." Micah would tease [member="Laura Na'Varro"], who would find her hand taken into his to make sure she didn't. It was more of a precaution than a strike at her ability to take care of herself. She could do that very well on her own, but with the pushing and the shoving of heavily inebriated aliens and glitbiters, he rather make sure Laura was at his side.

"Booth sound good?" that's when the smell of freshly cooked ribines hit him. "Smell that?" he'd ask, encouraging her to follow him by weaving through the patrons over towards a dirty booth that still had the leftovers from the previous occupants, but the seating was free.

"Might as well get something to eat eh?" he'd grin out at her, well aware that like Mara, Laura had a weakness for the grilled dish. Extra sauce. Granted, it would do her stomach a mite bit better. Maybe settle it.

And maybe he'll get the real reason she was using that scum as a punching bag.

 

[Laura Na'Varro]

Laura felt slightly taken aback as Micah took her hand into his. The first thing she noticed was how warm it was. Holding hands wasn't something she was used to, being the quiet, shy girl she was. She had held hands with her Dad before in crowded places like this one, however, that had been a little different. Her Dad's palms were leathery and coarse, with callouses just below each finger. Micah's were warmer, softer and given the environment they were in, kind of sweaty. They weren't too bad though. It was nice, actually.

"Sounds good," she said with a grin, and let him lead her to the booth. Ribenes awaited ... usually, Laura would be adverse to taking someone else's leftovers. However, well, she was starving, and Dad didn't give her much pocket money. She had a bite, and her face positively glowed with joy. Grilled, saucy goodness. With her mouth stuffed, she made a suggestive noise and pushed the plate towards Micah, indicating he should have some. Another noise followed, which might have been 'good.'

"Dirty cantina, leftovers.." Laura was starting to feel more at ease in the situation, and like her father, she had a tendency to engage in banter. It was just that less of her friends ever saw this side of her. "A couple of candles and this would be almost romantic! I hope you don't do this kind of thing for the other girls, Micah.."

She poked her tongue out at him, and filled her gob with savoury, tasty ribenes.

[member="Micah Talith"]

 

[Micah Talith]

Micah shot an amused half smirk over at [member="Laura Na'Varro"]'s direction. He took in her growing relaxed state, the warmth in her smile, the joking banter. There you are, Cricket, he mused to himself, his eyes crinkling in mild humor.

"And burn through my allowance?!" he shot back in a teasing quip, one hand slipping a bright ruby red fruit from a pocket. It was a gelden sun apple, with fresh firm skin and ripe for the enjoyment. A flick of his thumb and a small shiv snapped out, held by his other hand.

"Nah, then I can't save up for all first person holo shooters I need to get!" he tease, a quick perk of his brows to relay the feint flare of drama along with it. The sharp blade met the apple's flesh and he slowly began to cut wedges from it. The jovial tunes of the cantina would surround them, blanketing them against the low murmur of its patrons. It was nice. Done on purpose to wind Laura down from whatever brought her here to mar her knuckles raw with blood that wasn't her own.

"Really," he began, showing pearly white teeth. The guy never could seem to stop smiling one way or another, always friendly and outgoing. "This just means I'm extorting another round of sudden death." hologames were a small way to pass the time, and while Micah wasn't obsessed over them, he did enjoy playing a few rounds of player vs player.

A wedge would pop off from the apple, and he would extend it out to her. Mischief shone in his bright orange eyes. "Besides... the candles would cost me extra. I asked." came the joke