Invitation of an old friend... (Lydred Kaw)

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin checked the time on the data pad strapped to his wrist.

"Ah where in the frack are ya?"

Leave it to [member="Lydred-Kaw"] to be late. How long had it been now? Ten years. Ten years since they had seen one another. They had chased a bounty head all the way to Mustafar. A gunshot wound and a fifth of whiskey later though it turned out to be quite the vacation. Hell, now that he thought about it, that was pretty much how all of their encounters went. Harkin was begging to wander if the man would even show up.

With a sigh, more so with disgust at his own impatience, Harkin through his feet atop the table and peered off beyond the metal bladed ceiling fan keeping sloppy time to the jumbled noise that passed for music in the hole-in-the-wall bar.

 

[Lydred Kaw]

Lydred walked into the cantina taking a long drag off of his thick cigar as he slightly leaned on his tip toes, peering across the room

"HARKIN KANE! HaHa"

He heartily said loudly as he smiled chuckling now walking to the table with some pep in his step as his eyes lay upon his old friend.
Without missing a beat he takes a drink out of some ones hand and takes a seat across from his favorite man to do business with.

 

[Harkin Kane]

A familiar voice cut through the noise like a welcoming breeze. There was no need to turn to confirm his suspicions. That was indeed @Lydred-Kaw. Harkin slid his feet from the table letting them clang on the cage floor beneath them. Shooting a stern gaze at a flustered, drink-less patron before turning to face an old friend Harkin shot his mechanical hand across the table challenging the man at a harmless sport.

"Try your luck? Tougher than even your handy work my friend!" Harkin taunted awaiting the inevitable acceptance of his challenge.

 

[Lydred Kaw]

An occasion that Lydred was always ready to rise to. A simple challenge between friends.

"WELL WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT NOW WON'T WE"

Lydred lifted the drink and knocked it back. Half of it actually making it into his mouth the rest found it's self trickling down his fiery red beard. He tossed the glass across the room with a chuckle followed by an enormous belch. Lydred squinted his eyes and gritted his teeth as he readied his arm locking his wrist firmly shoving his elbow hard onto the table.

 

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin hadn't expected to win. Hell, in 20 years he couldn't recall a single victory, but it had become a custom. Gripping the bulky arm across the table he tightened his grip on the table with the other. The glass of water, that had long sit at room temperature, tumbled to the floor shattering. Unflinching and unaware Harkin gazed with anticipation across the table towards @Lydred-Kaw "All right bub, let's see if the years are catching up to you." With that Harkin began fighting against the bear-gripped mans un-moving arm. The last time they had such a duel, Harkin had two fleshy arms. It was quite to his amazement he felt the tiny giant's arm tilt at all...

 

[Lydred Kaw]

"WELL HOW BOUT THAT!" said Lydred with a smirk " YA MOVED MY WEAK ARM WITH YOUR CHEATING ARM"

Lydred was genuinely surprised. He almost always beat [member="Harkin Kane"] without even so much as having to try, but now Lydred would have to at least put forth effort. He began chewing his cigar and tightened his grip. Now putting pressure on his old friends mechanical wrist. Harkin's arm began to lean back ,but suddenly it became even more difficult than before. Lydred was shocked with the mechanical capability of his arm. Being the (self proclaimed) technical mastermind that he was, he had never seen such master craftsmanship in a prosthetic.

 

[Harkin Kane]

"CHEATING?" Harkin grinned ear to ear. "That's hurtful to an old spacer. We both know I'm always on the up n' up" Harkin gave a wink. Of course, not that you'd ever know it seeing as how his cybernetic eye is most always covered by the eye patch. It looked merely like a blink, but this did not register to Harkin. Not that it mattered in the least...

[member="Lydred-Kaw"]'s arm descended an inch further although, it still seemed miles from the table.

 

[Lydred Kaw]

Lydred becoming agitated at the mere thought of losing to [member="Harkin Kane"]. "RAAHHH" The short temper of the muscle bound bearded man began to come into play as he let out a scream that briefly caught the attention of a few of the cantina's patrons , but soon returned to their drinks. Lydred inching his way back into control let out a cocky grin. As sweat began to cover the determined mans brow, he used his other hand to let out a drag off of his cigar as if to taunt Harkin.

 

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin, not surprised in the least at the ascension of his own arm followed by it's descent, gripped the table harder, his knuckles going ghastly white. The legs of the rusty table began to quiver beneath the duos skirmish, and their tournament was grabbing the attentions of the bored patrons and employees. Harkin giving a hefty growl brought the arms back unto an even stalemate. Centuries seemed to past in the brief moments the two remained the match unchanging. The nerve ties between the prosthetic and Harkin's flesh were screaming in discomfort as the men pressed on...

[member="Lydred Kaw"]

 

[Lydred Kaw]

"FEELING TIRED YET?" Said Lydred with a wicked smile. He then began to dominate the stern but friendly competition. "NOW HARKIN, SURELY YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH" As the warhawked man started to gain the upper hand, he had clearly had just about enough of the challenge. Becoming bored with the seemingly everlasting conquest for victory.



[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Harkin Kane]

Beads of sweat began to form along Harkin's brow. The man forced a confident grin, "Trying to talk your way out of it now are we?" [member="Lydred Kaw"] knew better. Harkin would fight until his arm fell off. Despite his struggle, Harkin could not regain an advantage. The match would soon meet it's end.

 

[Lydred Kaw]

"NOW HARKIN, YOU AND I BOTH KNOW I AINT MUCH FER TALKIN"

Lydred knew that his prior hazing and sarcasm wouldn't begin to pierce the concentration of his calloused old companion. As some of the alcohol trickled onto the table from the tree trunk of a mans beard. He then with drug his other meaty palm through the small puddle of booze and grime that had begun to form upon the table. Raising the filth covered hand to his mouth to lap up the remaining alcohol like a mutt. Then realizing how rude it was to not offer some of his beloved treat to his friend he put his other hand near Harkins focused face.

"YOU WANT SOME?"

Said Lydred with sincerity in his voice and genuine kindness in his eyes. As the rancid stench of flameout filled Harkin's nose. All the while his gargantuan arm not budging in the slightest as he began blowing small smoke rings.




[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin was losing the war. His arm set a quiver as it began to descend, most likely for the final count. This was, of course, before the big meaty paw drenched in draft was waved tauntingly across his face. His hand half a foot from the tabletop, Harkin called an audible. Using his height to the advantage, Harkin kicked the chair of [member="Lydred Kaw"] from beneath the booth causing the man to both lose the advantage and to struggle to keep the elbow on the table. Harkin leaned in with the intent to go for the kill.

 

[Lydred Kaw]

Lydred, not surprised by the lengths his scum of a best friend would go to to win a simple game. "THAT'S NOT FAIR!" hollered the short man as his heavy feet hit the floor with a metal thud. His elbow slid dangerously low,as his arm was mere inches away from the tables top. It looked as though it was going to be his demise, but as Lydred's defeat looked imminent he let out with a brash. "TWO CAN PLAY AT YOUR GAME [member="Harkin Kane"]!"
Lydred slid his foot ontop of the rung of the chair that had been kick from under him by the scoundrel seat across from him. He pulled the chair close up behind him and stepped his way back into his chair, but the cantankerous little man was far from done with simply evening the score. He aimed to finish the job. Lydred stood up in his chair and slammed Harkin's metal hand hard into the table with a crash. So hard in fact it dented the table. Highly satisfied with his accomplishment. "WELL WELL WELL, LOOKS LIKE I WIN AGAIN. YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE, DRINKS WILL BE ON MR. KANE TONIGHT HAHA!" said the dwarf of a man as he flicked ashes in to his new Harkin hand shaped ash tray.

 

[Harkin Kane]

All Harkin could do was shake his head, "You know, The Clover had dents like that all in er from your shenanigans, God rest er soul." The bartender peered at the duo with disgust due to the damages but said nothing. As the crowds dispersed Harkin shook the stiffness from his shoulder and adjusted his chair. Reaching for the last known coordinance of his glass Harkin was met with disappointment. He waved the irritated bartender over to the table.

"Nother glass of water for me, and a pitcher of whatever rock-gut piss is on tap for em." Harkin thumbed in [member="Lydred Kaw"]'s direction. Without a word the bartender complied with the man's request and soon the two were drinking. "So my friend, what have you been involved in as of late?"

 

[Lydred Kaw]

Still overly satisfied by his "triumphant" victory and with a big toothy grin spread from ear to ear. "NOT A DAMN THING, I HAD A JOB ON BESPIN FOR A WHILE BUT THEN I GOT FIRED OVER ALITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING, ANYWAY POINT IS I GOT FIRED. Lydred said while he poured a tall glass of his favorite brand of flameout.

 

[Harkin Kane]

"You kiddin?" Harkin sounded more harsh than he had met to, "It's been what? 15 years, and that's all the mighty [member="Lydred Kaw"] has done?" Harkin smiled and ran his hand through his tangled hair. "You my friend are living a boring life." Instantly Harkin regretted his words as memories of his own life pored through his mind. The death of his family, the termination of the Bluehawks, the loss of his arm, but there were the good times to. He had made some of the greatest friends of his life. And in some form found a fraction of the family he had lost.

 

[Lydred Kaw]

"WELL I'M HERE WITH THE GREAT [member="Harkin Kane"] NOW. EXCITEMENT IS BOUND TO BE HERE ANY SECOND. " Lydred thought to himself about all the years he had spent of bespin and how he had been there the whole time, but he felt bad about not sharing the whole truth with his old friend.

 

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin lifted his glass as if to toast with [member="Lydred Kaw"]. "Let us hope not mate." Harkin took a gulp of the piss-washed glass of water. He became hypnotized for a moment absently watching a server clear a table as he drifted off into his thoughts. His mind was dancing about among the memories he had created and shared with the man across the table with him. Harkin had gotten Lydred into trouble quite a few times in their endeavors, and got him out of even more. Hell, he was just glad to count the number of his friends still among the living. Even if the total could be counted on one hand...

 

[Lydred Kaw]

Lydred took a long drag off of his diminishing cigar and blew the smoke out of his nostrils. " WELL FRIEND, SURELY YOU HAD ANOTHER REASON FOR CALLING ME HERE OTHER THAN TO SIMPLY CATCH UP. Lydred wanted nothing more than to sit there for hours and reminisce about the good ole days, and counting how many times they'd saved each others asses, but he knew THE Harkin Kane wouldn't have called him all the way out here to Hutt space out of the blue if there hadn't been a very good reason.