Meet and Greet- Because It's a Good Idea for Sociopaths to be Social

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin tugged the flask from inside his coat. Funny, he had been collecting bounties for over half his life, and he had never once visited the only recognized guild of the trade. Not only did he visit, but he broke down and joined. If that wasn't a drinking occasion then what was? Fro what he could gather there was usually only a handful of 'admirable' characters present at a time. Nature of the beast, the beast being hunting, was staying gone and occupied most of the time. But a constant place to gather bearings was an idea Harkin could get use to. The cap clinked on the side of the aluminium canister as Harkin quickly tilted it up against his lips. Wiping his mouth with a dusty sleeve, he tucked the flask back away. "Welp, let's go meet the locals..."

 

[Aela Kellov]

Aela was sitting at a table nearby, sipping down a decent bottle of beer while soaking in her latest bounty. A decent pay when you're doing a job for Hutts, and they pay high to see their hands not get dirty over some smuggler who didn't deliver. She looked about, observing some of the faces to see if any were new. And low and behold there came one. She had her helmet off, exposing her face, which helped to see the flask the guy had used to drink before tucking it away. She wondered if it was a special brand or just something only he could handle. Either way the guy seemed interesting enough.

"You're new around here, aren't you?" she asked him when he was close enough.

@[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin was trudging through the hall aimlessly so the voice snuck up behind him.

"You're new around here, aren't you?"

His eye widened a bit in surprise, but only for a split second. His composure unscathed as he turned to face the voice's origins. "Ah, don't tell me I look like a tourist?" He spoke it as more of a statement than a question. It was more suave and less boy scout than a handshake and howdy do. He wasn't uncomfortable of his surroundings, but despised the thought of being new meat. He had been at this a long time and he was to damn old to appear green. Noticing the armor as he approached the table he thought to himself, 'Frak, don't be no mando.' Harkin slid a chair from the opposite side of the table and let himself fall into it.

@Aela Kellov

 

[Aela Kellov]

"A little." She said. "But also I tend to recognize faces, and I haven't seen yous before." She sipped down more beer before ordering for a shot now. She signaled for one of the tenders to bring it, when they did she gave a small tip before taking the shot down in one swift motion. Looking to the tender she said "Thanks, handsome.", the tender being a male twi'lek, and winked at him. He looked a bit flustered before walking away, Aela turning her attention back to her guest. "So, you got a name to go with those rough eyes that seem to be checking out my armor too much. Or were you looking at something else?" she asked coyly and smirked.

@[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

A man quietly walked into the establishment, taking a seat away from the two who were flirting. He wore black robes, the hood over his face. But it was no mistakening who he was.... Nicholas DragonsFlame. Sith Knight. But since when was DragonsFlame a Bounty Hunter? It made no sense....

 

[Harkin Kane]

The man watched as she flushed the server a bit. Rather she was making a scene or it was her nature either way amused Harkin, and as the Twi'lek made his retreat Harkin called after him, Whiskey, and just bring the bottle alright chief?" Harkin's attention fell back on to the woman. He grinned at her remarks. "Names Harkin and as for my gazing, well ya gotta size up your mark before ya make a move right? Armor's Mandolorian no?" Scene or nature didn't matter she had the look. Harkin was dancing with a fellow killer. Few things a man learns with age. Pick-up lines are frak'n useless, and you proceed carefully with an armored woman, an armored, bounty hunter woman, a drinking, armored bounty hunter woman! He had a hunch on figuring her out, but he was smart enough to further evaluate. He also noticed the man in robes make his arrival. If Harkin had stood out at all, this guy sure as hell was. He looked back towards his new drinking companion with a raised brow and I slight tilt of the head.

@[member='Aela Kellov '], @[member='Nicholas DragonsFlame'],

 

[Aela Kellov]

Seeing Harkin's looks she glanced over to the robbed figure sitting there. She shrugged and said "A Sith I guess. Either he's looking for a hired hand or he's one of those rare types that likes to do work as a hunter on the side. Anything in between too." She acted as if it was normal which, to her, it was. Aela had done enough jobs for the Sith that one had actually called her "The Sith's Right Hand", whatever that meant. She paid little mind on him, unless he intended to hire her for a job. Harkin's drink had arrived by the time she brought the conversation back to her armor. "You've got good eyes by the way." she began. "It is. I have this thing for a while now. And in case you're wondering, yes and no. I'm half-Mandolorian."

@[member="Harkin Kane"] @[member="Nicholas DragonsFlame"]

 

[Harkin Kane]

I'm half-Mandolorian

He unintentionally cringed slightly at the phrase, but played it off well. Truth be he had no problem with Mandalore or Mandolorians and had fought along side exceptional warriors claiming the title. It was just here of late he had been avoiding them thanks to the greenhorn in the bar. He smirked playfully towards the woman as he broke the seal on the dark bottle and unscrewed the cap. "Sith huh? Wonder what gave that away." He turned the bottle up for a swig.

@[member='Aela Kellov '],

 

[Aela Kellov]

"It's the robes." Aela said, leaning back. "I mean sure, anyone can wear a black robe. But when a sith's wearing one, you know. That and, well, I've seen him before. Not directly but just heard of him. But then I hear a lot of Sith names when I hang around them for so long." She brought the conversation away from that and asked "So what's you beef with Mandalorians?" She looked a bit annoyed when waiting for an answer. "Don't try and hide it. I saw the way you reacted. So? What's the deal?"

@[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Harkin Kane]

Realizing his sarcasm wasn't being acknowledged, and seeing the change in her expression Harkin sighed and turned the bottle up again. He returned the bottle with a clink as he spoke, "Nah, I've got no problem with Mandos just the green ones." He looked her in the eyes so that she might see he was sincere. "The training is incredible and the honor is admirable, hell I'd hire a Mando over anyone else anytime, but they're just training em and spitting em out. It's like giving a toddler a carbine." Harkin relaxed in the seat a little. "But whats your angle Ms. Kellov?" Harkin wasn't a push over, he recognized her before he even saw the armor. She hit hard and drunk harder and boasted a large reputation. Last place he expected her to be was across the table. He was known well enough, but mainly for his reputation of barely escaping death again and again. Well that and the death of everyone he interacts with, but hey maybe she didn't know the name.

@[member='Aela Kellov '],

 

[Aela Kellov]

She perked up a bit when he mentioned her name, not it was too surprising. She smile and said "If you mean the armor, it was a gift from my father. If you're talking about why I'm here, same as you really. Just trying to enjoy a little downtime. Other then that I have no idea what you'd mean by 'angle'."

@[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Kitt Solo]

"...and then the bothan disappeared faster than leaving a freshly baked pecan-pie on a Corellian window ledge."

The bar man snorted along with her salt and pepper haired friend, Chuck. "Kitt, you tell in' me that's how you lost your shoes?"

A lopsided grin met the old man's gaze as the bar man filled up her whiskey glass. "No, no. That came later with the hutt tryin' to ride a speeder-mobile in that dagum snow storm." She leaned closer to her partner Chuck, myrtle ellipses doing a quick scan of the posse gathered in the bar. For a moment, she wondered if Hannibal would make an entrance.

"Looks like a dark- mysterious, a woman that could break the wings off a mynock, and a disarmingly good-natured man slash possible functioning alcoholic." Chuck bit back a bark of laughter and followed her gaze.

 

[Harkin Kane]

"Nah, that covers it." Harkin smiled as he turned towards the laughter at the bar catching the curious gaze of those involved. He tilted his bottle in salutations towards them. @[member='Kitt Solo'], Harkin had heard stories on a few of her marks. At least enough to recognize her. He looked back towards @[member='Aela Kellov '] as he slid the bottle back on the table. This was an odd scenario all together. Usually when hunters got together everything is destroyed. No one ever wants to share a mark. Needless to say the whole thing was... pleasant. "Bout as good at small talk as I am, huh?"

 

[Aela Kellov]

"I keep my talking as long as I'm interested." Aela stated. "And for now you're decent enough company." She glanced over at @[member="Kitt Solo"] and gave a small wave, also knowing who she was. That was the thing with hunters and mercs, words tended to get around from one about the other to another and then back to who it started with. Some could argue they were worse than a group of housewives spreading gossip all over a town. Still Aela didn't mind it. The more the merrier, just as long as none were trying to interfere with her job and she wasn't even on the job right now. "So what made you get into the hunter business?" she asked @[member="Harkin Kane"].

 

[Harkin Kane]

Hmm... Harkin hadn't thought about his past in a long time. He didn't care to go into the details. Dead parents, dead wife the hole thing felt like two lifetimes ago. He took a much longer swig of the bottle this time around. The clunk had became and clink as the bottle was empty. "Short story of it, I killed the man who killed my wife. Gunned em down in the streets of Coruscant. Republic space wasn't accepting bounties at the time and Coruscant didn't allow weapons near the temple so I did a stretch of time. Due to my record I couldn't pilot for the republic, and I'm not one for authority anyway. So it was this or blow my brains out." He forced a chuckle. "And here I am." He imagined the story followed with any tale of his marks so he saw no need to elaborate. He grabbed the bottle and was irritated to see it empty. He lifted it and looked towards the counter. 'Sure hope they let me start a tab...'

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

Ah, they were talking about him. How cute. But of course, how would they know? Nick had never come in here unmasked before... He'd always worn his Mandalorian armor and helmet, the dark green a suitable shield for his identity.

"Green Fox. Ask it before you assume anything. And yes, I'm a Sith. Doesn't mean I'm not a Bounty Hunter anymore" the Sith Knight finally spoke, his blue eyes fixing on @[member="Harkin Kane"] and @Aela Kellov.

The bartender stopped cold, dropping his glass, his eyes suddenly fixing on The Fox. And then he began to laugh.

"You? The Green Fox? I doubt it" the bartender said, shaking his head. "I heard he hunted down some mass murderer, all the way to some Sith planet, and then... He was never heard from again. He cashed in the bounty, yes, but nobody heard anything from the Fox again after that"

Nick looked over at the bartender, a smirk crossing his lips.

"And you never stopped to wonder... What happened to him? Did you think he just retired, or disappeared? Or perhaps, the governor of the planet saw something in him, and took him under his wing... And made him more dangerous then he was before"

Nick cracked a smile. "I used to go by The Green Fox, yes. I was one of the most dangerous bounty hunters this galaxy had ever seen. I've fought for the Republic, I've fought for the Empire. I've fought for Hutts, I've fought for the CIS. I once turned on my own employer, during a large scale battle with the Black Suns, just because he had a major price on his head... I was one of the most clever, one of the most sly, and as my name said..... The most like a fox, in the game. But what is a bounty hunter to do when he gets the big score, you should ask? When he's set for life, and his mentor tells him... Bounty hunting isn't for fun. It's not for sport. You don't hunt for the sick thrill of it, it's never how I was taught, and never how I will ever BE taught... But what do you do, when you're set for life? Do you hunt for the fun of it, get a sadistic thrill out of hunting down targets? No. You set new goals"

As he said this, he took out a blaster that was familiar to the bartender, and to anyone else who may have been unfortunate enough to see the firearm that belonged to the Fox. He spun it around on his finger effortlessly, a move that made the bartender's jaw drop. Not because it was incredibly impressive, but because he only knew of one man that did that, every single visit... Every drink, every single time.

"That's all I did, my friend" he said. "I became a new man. I went from the feared Mandalorian Bounty Hunter, sly as a fox, tough as a krayt dragon... As cunning as a man could get... To an even more feared Sith Knight. My priorities might have changed... But I'm still the same man. And every little while, a man has to come home"

He chuckled a bit. "Is that enough to make you believe me, or do I have to fish out my old armor?" he joked.

The bartender shook his head. "No, that's... That's quite alright. It's good to see you again, Mr. Fox. The usual, then?"

Nick nodded. "You know me so well"

 

[Kitt Solo]

@[member="Nicholas DragonsFlame"] @[member="Harkin Kane"] @Aela Kellov

"Whelp, fox-guy turned sith, I'm surprised you can fit into an establishment like this with all that hubris." She cracked a smile and elbowed Chuck in the arm in an amirite, gesture. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey behind the bar, she slipped off the chair and made her way over to Aela and Harkin's table.

With a nice, resounding, and bold clunk, she set the bottle down in front of Harkin. "Looks like you're in need of something to wet your tongue, sweetpie." She nodded to Aela. "Always good to see another woman paving her way into a man's field." A good natured-wink followed.

 

[Aela Kellov]

Aela sat back and listened to @[member="Nicholas DragonsFlame"] and his story of being the Fox. She'd heard of the Fox, what hunter or criminal hadn't? Still she had to chuckle when @[member="Kitt Solo"] joked about all the hubris her seemed to emote with his background. Even if he used to be a bounty hunter he'd been pulled into the ranks of the Sith, making him more like them than hunter. At least that's what Aela thought of it anyway. She never liked people who used 'the force' for two reasons: it always made things to easy and it always got in the way when on a job.

When Kitt commented on the whole '"woman in man's field" she nodded in response to her wink before saying "If only guys run the galaxy all we'd be good for was dancing and keeping the house clean when they got back. And I don't know thing one about keeping a house clean." she finished with a small laugh.

@[member="Harkin Kane"]

 

[Nick Dragovalor]

Nick slipped @[member="Kitt Solo"] a faint smirk and a wink.

"I'm still the same person at heart, fancy lightsaber or not" he snarked with a grin as he took his drink. Taking a sip, he cracked his neck as he took a seat.

 

[Harkin Kane]

Harkin smiled up at @[member="Kitt Solo"], "Read my mind Miss Solo." Staring a bit longer than would suffice a simple thank you he looked down towards the bottle and began tearing off the seal.. Green Fox, Sith, or Mandolorian Harkin didn't mind. Everyone dies all the same, and he was actually enjoying the company. @[member="Nicholas DragonsFlame"] pulled up a chair of his own at the table. "Well the gangs all here huh?" With a heavy flick of his thumb the cap went spinning into the floor somewhere around the tables.[SIZE=small] Harkin looked back up at Kitt offering her the first swig.[/SIZE]