Faraway

[NightSister]

Ziost​

​

Anyone who knew Aria well could attest to her skepticism of Empires. Sith had a certain inclination to chaos that never seemed to fit well within these structures - the Echani had seen three Sith Empires rise and fall in her lifetime and as glad as it would make her to see the fourth survive where all the rest had fallen, it was a dream she was wary of placing much faith in.

But all the same, she liked this one plenty. She had friends who served loyally wherever they could. And their sphere of influence was a convenient place for several of her own ventures. Aria didn't dare gamble too much on the Sith Empire, but she was not so blinded by her independence as to miss their strength.

Where she could, she helped to make their permanence a certainty.

Naturally, a good deal of her business was within the Empire's territory. Kova operated out of Kol Huro, the Valkyries were housed within Bastion for the time being, and their influence stretched over planets that she truthfully appreciated ease of access to.

She'd wound up on Ziost exploring a storm but stayed out of convenience, curious to explore the opportunities. Business, research, the sheer force of her inquisitive nature - staying busy came easily. But today was leisure. Today she was attempting normal. Aria was fascinated with the abnormal, coveted the unique, but some days wanted for trying (pretending) to relax.

So, caf. There was a nice place a few blocks away that supposedly sold excellent drinks and naturally, that was where Aria walked.

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[member="Natassia Traxen"]​

 

[NT-6922]

Natassia was still reeling from the harsh blow that was the Mirial fiasco. Getting wasted to forget was part of her routine now; something she simply had to do to keep herself sane after years of conflicts. But, as she planned on which bar she would first go to, Vaylin's words echoed in her mind. She never really did go into Sith space after all. And besides, what could it do to her? She was at a point where things could hardly get worse. If she was to stick her neck on the line for the Jedi, she might as well honor the words of her foes who had decided to (surprisingly) spare her.

She was filled with anxiety during the travel; she hadn't even looked up the planet's name. All she knew was that it was well within Sith-controlled space. The stormtrooper couldn't manage to sleep, extremely afraid of the unknown path that lied before her; fear of the unknown was something understandable, and even moreso when it was within such conditions. All she could think about was the rumors of the cruelty and tyrannical nature of the Sith - and yet, the two Valkyries did spare her. They let her live, for some unfathomable reason.
The civilian transport ship arrived on Ziost, and the lonely soldier hurried out. Walking on the streets there made her feel normal, if only for a moment. No longer a killing machine sedated with booze and sex, but a regular woman wearing a leather jack to conceal her mechanical arms, enjoying a stroll. In fact, she stopped checking behind her shoulder barely an hour after her arrival, and it was almost naturally that she entered a small, and yet busy bar of sorts.

She had to admit that once she entered, the serene feeling of tranquility was gone. It was bustling with activity, and yet, the ambiance was far different from the places she usually went to. It was cozy, with warm lights casting a pleasantly gloom shadow over certain areas. She pulled on her jacket to try and hide her mechanical hands, feeling extremely awkward while doing so. Maybe she should have taken her peacekeeping armor after all; it looked unconspicuous enough.
But, as she ordered a cup of caf, she noticed that it would make her look strange indeed; not much people here looked like the normal patrons of the countless bars she had been to. No blasters on people's hips, no armors, no helmets hanging on their packs... the population was fairly normal, which was, although refreshing, very strange to her.

[member="Aria Vale"]​