Hookers and Blasters; A First Imperial Holiday.

[Rexus Wenck]

The orange and white flowery top Rexus loosely wore wasn't what he was usually used to. In fact, usually he would be wearing the crisp, white armour of his stormtrooper uniform. But now, he was relaxing in a seedy dive on Montina. It was fairly common place for the First Order to shuttle troops to neutral systems or other First Imperial holdings. Rexus opted for a neutral system, he'd seen quite enough of those planets through conquest and garrison duty. While many of his unit chose to holiday on Zarnathea, or Bespin, Rexus opted for Montina. It was a dive of a planet and its streets with former One Sith bureaucrats, reduced to wenches who'd do anything for a cut of a stormtroopers wage.

Right now, the trooper slunk back in a small bar, the "Mon Calamari Maiden", it was a small humid dump, but in his brief, so far two day stay there. He sipped a little on a glass of Corellian ale, his green eyes looking around the dark, humid bar.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

It had to have been some kind of record for her, though even that wouldn't be entirely true, given the scuffles Keira had found herself in through the years. Regardless, she had managed to find herself a minor dispute even before entering the bar, herself and another individual coming toe-to-toe and trading blows, the clash ending quickly by her own hand. Now a Devaronian found themselves unconscious outside of the shabby, rundown establishment, and she was seated in a corner booth nursing what meager wounds she had obtained. Her lip was partially split thanks to a graze with the alien's claws, with bruising about her temple and cheekbone being the most prominent otherwise. This time around she had managed to avoid a broken nose, which was a blessing by itself.

There were a few cuts across the knuckles of her right hand, the scarring that toughened the skin there preventing any serious injury. For the most part she would consider herself relatively unscathed, and so was satisfied. That meant it was back to the business at hand, which was nothing more than casual reconnaissance. The First Order weren't a prominent enemy of the Crusaders by any means, but they were ones she saw fit to keep an eye on regardless. It was better to know one's enemy, and besides, it was nice to travel away from the bustle of Echoy'la for a short time, even if she wouldn't admit as such aloud. But this was just business, and would remain that way. There was no reason for this to escalate in either direction.

Her hand raised when a server passed by, the metal of the cybernetic glinting in the dim light doing enough to catch their attention. Quietly she ordered nothing more than a water, leaning forward and resting her chin on her arms, returning to simple observation.

[member="Rexus Wenck"]

 

[Rexus Wenck]

Rexus continued sipping on the ale, and watching the observers until he saw the woman with the scars on her face.Something about her intrigued the stormtrooper. There was an air of mystery about her, that he liked, no loved. The whole cybernetic arm, the massive bruises on her face, Rexus was, well, not in love. But his interest was piqued. He gestured to the woman, and turned to the barkeep, "Know anything about her?"

"Don't know, heard a rumour she kicked some Devaronian's ass." The barkeep wheezed, before pouring another glass.

Rexus smirked a little from behind the glass, before putting it down as he finished his drink. "Mm, I like my girls with a bit of kick."

The barkeep groaned and shook his head in disapproval, "You know you'll get your poodoo kicked in, right?"

Rexus grinned, "Who could resist my charm?" he asked, standing, and casually walking to her. "'Ello there gorgeous," the lieutenant said with a warm smile, "This seat taken?"

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Just as soon as he infringed on what Keira had deemed to be her personal space - which was two to three meters in a venue like this - she was instantly aware of his presence and just where he stood in relation to her. Everything about the way he moved and how he approached her was carefully noted, all without looking his way. Such was one of the blessings of being born sensitive to the ethereal. It functioned as the eyes in the back of her head most days, a tripwire system that was far more advanced than anything money could buy. Surprising an old soldier by themselves was impossible, but doing so when said individual happened to be attuned to a mystical energy field added an entirely new level of difficulty.

Her gaze was on him in the seconds before he spoke, betraying a simple knowing most average individuals wouldn't possess. As soon as what he deemed a suitable greeting passed his lips something about her demeanor shifted just slightly, the patronizing manner in which he spoke immediately rubbing her the wrong way. However, there was no tension to her form indicating readiness for a fight. Instead she was almost uncharacteristically casual, a hard edge emerging behind her eyes, one akin to a wall of stone with an edge like a razor blade. Wordlessly she looked to him, studying him for a moment before she leaned back in her chair, sighing quietly.

"No, it's not." Her voice was monotone, dark eyes meeting directly with his. "And I would advise a different choice of words, next time."

[member="Rexus Wenck"]

 

[Rexus Wenck]

Rexus eyed her with a glint of mischeif, "Easy there nerf herder," he said, sitting down, and resting himself opposite her, he leaned back, and pulled over a serving droid "Another ale for myself, and the lady."
The rusty red protocol droid nodded, "And who'll be paying?" it droned in a low, grizzled voice. Its communications module, obviously near broken.

"Put it on the tab," Rexus said, before turning to his obviously pissed counterpart, "Now, where were we again?" he asked, running a hand through his short, dirty blonde hair, "Right, right, you were telling me to kark off," he said, "Well, let's see, a lovely lady like you, all alone, who looks like she's been through hell," he said with a smirk on his lips, "But rumours out that you're the one who kicked some poor losers arse."

Rexus paused, and slipped a rough hand into his pocket, and slipped out a cigarette, before reaching into his other pocket for a light. "So whats your deal?" he asked, "You on the run? The whole 'I don't wanna talk' vibe gives me that idea." he asked, taking a drag, the serving droid returned and put down two glasses with a clink. Rexus motioned a silent thank you, and took a sip.

"And if so, from who? Jedi? Hutts? Mandalorian barbarians?"

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

A crooked smile and a quiet laugh was her only initial response, and she shook her head, pulling one of the drinks he'd ordered slightly closer. Wordlessly she took a sip, grimacing slightly as the alcohol came into contact with the cut across her lip. One hand reached up to properly inspect it, and after a moment she seemed satisfied once deeming it wasn't in need of stitches. Finally Keira seemed to fully acknowledge him once again, "Through hell?" She took a moment to give herself a onceover, one shoulder raising in a shrug. "No, that wasn't much of anything. Rest assured I've seen a lot worse than some meaningless fight outside of a bar." Not to mention that she had both the scars and experience to prove it.

Dark hair fell into her eyes that she reached up to brush away, raising an eyebrow at mention of being on the run. "Even if I was, I don't see a reason to tell you." She took another sip of the ale, watching him over the glass. "But to answer your question, no, I'm not. People tend to head the other direction when it comes to me, rather." And with what she was capable of, most people would walk the other way if they knew what was good for them. For those that hadn't seen her on the battlefield, well, they tended to learn quickly one way or the other. Something told her this one here would be another of those individuals. If he was First Order like she was beginning to suspect from nothing more than his attitude, then she wouldn't have a problem demonstrating why speaking to her as he was tended to be a bad idea.

"You know, most people don't strike up conversation with the person everybody else is whispering about. Either you're exponentially stupid, or you're feeling lucky. Care to tell me which it is, or am I supposed to take a guess?" The edge to her smile was far more amused than she likely had a right to be, as if she was daring him to try something. In a way she was. At the very least another fight with one like him would make things much more interesting.

[member="Rexus Wenck"]

 

[Rexus Wenck]

"I'm on holiday darling, you could say I'm feeling a bit of both" he said, taking another drag, accompanied by a sip on the ale. "I think you're just some bounty hunter who needs to take the edge off," he said, "And why not?" he asked. "Here we are, on some Core world crap-hole, with enough prostitutes and booze to serve a Hutt in this life and the next." he paused, "So why are you so pissed?" He asked, before sticking the cigarette back in his mouth, inhaling it, before taking it out, and expelling the smoke. "Boyfriend dump you? Bounty get away? Death in the family? I mean, what makes you so righteously pissed?"

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

Keira shook her head with that same crooked smile, leaning back and crossing her arms, fingertips teasing the grip of her pistol - Kalso's Revenge - that was concealed in a shoulder holster beneath her leather jacket. It would do no good to draw the weapon given where she sat, but it was enough to merely entertain the prospect. Had she been a few years younger someone like him wouldn't have remained unscathed for so long throughout this discussion. A more physical warning would have been received upon his approach, but as she aged some form of wisdom had grown to accompany her, or at least a shred more self-restraint than what she had maintained in the past. While she hadn't lost an iota of her spitfire attitude, she had learned to tame it.

"I'm not a bounty hunter." It was a career prospect she had considered at one point, but more profit had always been found in remaining where she stood, regardless of what that affiliation happened to be at the time. "If it's all the same to you, I've grown out of the habit of going out to drink, smoke and sleep with whomever crosses my path quite some time ago. I've found more important things to dedicate my time to." Such as the safety of an entire people and a husband and two children. Her younger self would have likely been more amiable to his attitude and what he was out for, but age had driven that carelessness from her as she had sorted out her priorities and obtained a touch more self-control.

Her head cocked slightly to one side as she watched him for a moment, her gaze one of a predator determining if another was even worthy prey. "I'm not pissed, and I don't think you would still be sitting here if I was." Was that intended as a bit of a threat? That was all up to how he interpreted it, but for her own part she hadn't quite taken violence out of the picture just yet. "I just happen to be here on business, and I have more to be concerned with than yourself, it seems." Even with the stagnation of the Crusaders up until recently, RnR hadn't crossed her mind. In these days, with the galaxy in the state it was, soldiers rarely found rest until recently. But old soldiers like her weren't keen to get out of things just yet, or maybe that was just her.

"What has you so interested in me, anyway? I wasn't aware that I was so fascinating."

[member="Rexus Wenck"]

 

[Rexus Wenck]

"Healthiest set of legs I've seen since I got here," he said, putting his feet on the table. He leaned back, and took a sip on his ale, "Not that I assume you're propositioning, of course not ma'am." He was carefuller in his tone now. "But the fact remains that you're the most interesting person whose dragged themselves out from the heat." he said, taking another drag, "And I happen to adore interesting people," he said, sliding his feet off, and getting his chair back onto its four legs. "Consider it an old habit dying hard," he added with a mischeivious wink. Oh how Rexus enjoyed taking the piss out of people who took themselves so seriously.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

"I've been called a lot of things, but I think interesting is the most tame." Of course, 'interesting' in and of itself could take on a lot of meanings, but she had a feeling she already knew that which he was referring to. "I don't think I'm the sort of person you'd want to adore. I can't speak for certain, but something tells me if you knew exactly who I find myself affiliated with you might not enjoy my company quite as much." In some way Keira was toying with him now, playing the long game in order to gauge just who he was as a person rather than a part of a greater whole. And, well, perhaps she wanted to see if he would go so far as to incite some kind of conflict. That would have certainly made things interesting.

Her head cocked slightly to one side, a smile quirking one corner of her mouth. "Unfortunately for you, I'm already taken. Even if I wasn't, well." She seemed to look him over. "You're not the sort I would exactly go for. Nothing personal, exactly. It's more so a galactic issue." His move.

[member="Rexus Wenck"]

 

[Rexus Wenck]

"Galactic issue? Honey, we're sitting right in the epicentre of a galactic issue." he gestured to the dive around them, "But whatever," he said, standing up, he was done with her smugness. "Why should I stick around with a stuck up snob like yourself?" He picked up a glass from a roving service robot, the robot turned, but Rexus batted it away. "Go kark yourself." he said, tipping the glass upside down, and pouring a full glass of thick, Gamorrean wine onto her head. Turning back, and feeling like a badass, he began to walk away.

"Oi, what about the tab?!" The barkeep bellowed.

"Tell the whore out back its hers," Rexus said.

[member="Keira Ticon"]

 

[Keira Priest]

There were a few moments where Keira just watched him walk away, alcohol seeping through her hair and cutting wet trails down her face, stinging as it dripped into her eyes. Her breath hissed between her teeth as she restrained her immediately homicidal urges, just managing to stop herself from murdering him outright. It wouldn't do good to draw undue attention to herself by killing a First Order trooper on the outskirts of his own space, no matter how tempting the prospect was becoming. Instead she focused on her breathing for those first few seconds as he turned his back on her, forcing herself to exercise restraint before she made a move which she would ultimately come to regret.

In a gesture that was deliberate in its casualness she reached up with her right hand to brush her hair out of her eyes, stretching out with the Force in order to throw the man back into the nearest wall. Her head cocked slightly to one side as she watched him afterwards, and she remained seated, not finding it in herself to care enough to pursue him further than this. The message had been sent, and for these first moments that was enough. It was up to him, now, as to how the rest of this would continue, but she wasn't holding her breath for nonviolence.

[member="Rexus Wenck"]