Reoccuring Returns.

[Williamice2]

Well at least Theseus chose a different location this time. Though it was the same planet. The same one he'd been stuck on. The same one he kept returning to. Which was something Theseus never thought possible. As well a bit frustrating. He really didn't enjoy being around this area. Though he kept getting over it, so he could see what had brought him here this time. As Theseus kept his hand near the hilts of his two lightsabers. He never knew when a conflict would arise. After all it was a dangerous and uncertain galaxy they lived in.

Theseus chose to walk along the dark alley's of the city. As it provided a good amount of shadow's to wander along in. Theseus looked around and sighed. As he thought he heard something. Though decided to dismiss this as sometimes it was best to ignore things. You never knew what the local cartel was up to. Which meant that Theseus would need to try to avoid conflict. He was on good terms with some of the groups, and would prefer to keep it that way.

 

[Shalimar]

Nar Shaddaa, a hive of criminals. It seemed the logical place for Shalimar to be. Even after a few years, escaping the institute, she still was constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for that time to come when those researchers actually caught up with her. That wasn't a day she looked forward to. At least here, there were plenty of dark alleys, winding roads and abandoned buildings to hide out in. That was something she was grateful for, even if she could have done with less of the crime. Though, it did have the added benefit of making her invisible here. No one paid much mind to the blonde, when they were more worried about being shot in the back.

Keen ears picked up footsteps approaching. From her hiding spot in the shadows, Shalimar just watched and waited. Almost instinctively she pulled her cloak up around her head, and pulled it tighter against her slender frame. Some distance ahead, she could see a figure heading her direction. Not many people walked these alleys unless they had to. And if they did they generally fell into one of three categories, brave, naive, or like her.... Someone with a past, looking just to blend in.

For now, she chose to remain in the shadows. That somehow felt safer than confronting the being. Shifting further against the wall, a boot scuffed the ground, making more noise than she cared for. Feth! She thought to herself. Silence was always key to not be seen, and here she'd made the error. So much for the hope of going on noticed. A hand rested lightly against a blaster on her hip, just in case. There was no telling who this was, or what their goals were.

[member="Theseus Reneun"]

 

[Williamice2]

[member="Shalimar"]

Theseus looked ahead and saw the source of noise. Which surprised him the slightest of bits. As he smiled a little and shook his head. Better the person be ahead of him. Then the person be behind him, especially if they had ill intents for being in this alleyway. So, Theseus moved his hands to a more relaxed position. Though consciously kept an idea of where his lightsabers were on his belt. So Theseus could call them up into his hands within a moments notice. Another words quick enough to react if things should go badly. On the other hand Theseus wanted to move so he didn't look so suspicious and as a threat. Though he probably was a threat. He'd prefer to try and be on people's good sides, as opposed to wanting to have every one kill him, and in return he felt inclined to kill them.

Theseus came closer to the figure and blinked as he realized it was a woman. Which was more surprising to him as a dark alleyway wasn't the place for a woman. Unless that woman was lost, hiding, or likely out to kill everything that moves. Which made Theseus shift into an uneasy and defensive posture as he neared. Thinking about how he was going to present himself without making her rash to attack him. As Theseus came to a stop a few feet away for both personal space of the woman, as well as reaction time.

"Hello." Theseus spoke as he kept the hood of the robe he commonly wore, above his head. As he tilted his head in a curious manner. Reaching out curiously with the force, to use force empathy to try and better predict the woman's intentions. After all feelings were strong motivators for actions. A person terrified was more likely to run or strike, then a person in a calm, or happy mood. As he held a neutral emotion on his own face.

 

[Shalimar]

There was the inclination to run, flight over fight. That seemed to always be her first instinct of late. Not that anyone could really blame her, she'd been running long enough, from everything and everyone that it simply came down to survival first.

Still the feeling she gained through her untrained senses wasn't one of overwhelming threat. Certainly there was a certain element of that but it seemed buried a little beneath the surface. Is he alone? Her eyes flicked about checking both ends of the alley, looking for others. Her paranoia rising to the surface. However, for now he seemed alone.

She sighed, "Hi." It was more of a question than statement, with the way her voice lifted at the end.

Seems curious.... Which left her, a small bit curious as to who he was. "And who might you be?" Keen ears picked up noise a fair distance off, startling her as she glanced down to the far end of the alley, and then quickly back to him.

[member="Theseus Reneun"]

 

[Williamice2]

[member="Shalimar"]

Frightened... Jumpy... Suspicious... Curious. Those were the three major things Theseus could pick up about the lady. As he relaxed a little and smiled warmly. He wasn't going to try and give her a reason to be spooked. He glanced towards the far alley at the sound that had caught the lady's attention. Though whatever it was, happened to be out of eyesight. Which was a little concerning to Theseus. As he preferred to have a good sense about where everything was. "I'm Theseeus." he replied to her question as he began to softly hum. "Who might you be?" he asked her. Theseus assumed she was in this alleyway to avoid someone or many someones. Which was the case he was unsure about. Though that was the closest explanation Theseus had towards why she'd choose to be in the alleyways.

Theseus relaxed even further and did a strange thing. He took a seat in the middle of the alleyway. Primarily to show he had no intentions of picking a fight with her. Nor did he have any plans to hurt her. He was only in this alleyway because he wanted a hidden path to his destination. He knew that if this lady had ill intentions then he was vulnerable. Though sometimes even if it contradicts your personality, a leap of faith can reveal many positive outcomes.

 

[Shalimar]

"Theseus." She repeated, taking the name to memory. Her eyes dropped down to the ground for a moment, "I'm Shalimar." She said before once more glancing back down the alleyway.

As he started to sit, shock rippled through the Feral. This she couldn't quite figure out, but at least he seemed to be less of a threat than he was a moment ago. Which at least helped her to relax a small bit. She still did worry what else was out there, but for now some danger had passed. She sighed, "Odd of you to do that, suppose it makes me feel better, so that's something." A shrug followed, "Been awhile since I've been around anyone that wasn't at least aiming to attack."

"It's complicated."

[member="Theseus Reneun"]

 

[Williamice2]

He listened quietly to her explain things. From her name to the fact that though she was confused by his sitting down, it did help, if even just a little. So, with that Theseus smiled a little bit. As he studied her and wandered why everyone would be inclined to attack this lady. She didn't seem very harmful, just a little uneasy. Which was fine with Theseus he was generally uneasy towards other people as well. Nobody was exactly at a level where Theseus bothered placing his full trust in them. Mainly he'd offer partial, to most of his trust. Though he always left a hint of doubt, so he didn't risk taking a burn, the last one was good enough for the rest of his life.

Though Theseus eventually stood back up. He did it in a slow manner. Wanting to keep spontaneous actions out of the equation. "Most stories are long ones." he replied to her. As he looked around and listened quietly. In case that he heard something that would be potentially dangerous. He wasn't hearing anything so that was a good sign. "Where are you headed to?" he asked her curiously.

[member="Shalimar"]

 

[Shalimar]

Shalimar sighed softly as she quickly glanced about the alleyway once more. Keen ears straining to hear off in the distance of any possible threat that might be out there and headed her way. There was no way that she could afford to risk being captured. Not now, not ever. Especially given how cruel the Institute had been to her in the first place, if she was caught again Shalimar had serious doubts about being able to escape again. "Fair point, they are. Though not many are as strange as mine."

Once against her eyes darted back and forth up and down the alleyway, then back to Theseus, "Nowhere, anywhere really ..." A shrug followed those words, "I'm just trying to keep moving. I really can't stay in once place too long, it risks too much to do so." At this point, she wasn't sure how much of her story she was willing to give up to the stranger. Still he didn't seem like that big of a threat as others had to her. "I'm kind of on the run from some bad people." That seemed to be about as much information as she really was willing to give up. With a price on her head out there, Shalimar could only afford to hand out only so much information before it posed a danger to herself.

Her eyes dropped to the duracrete, "I just have to keep moving, to keep myself out of trouble, you know?" Reaching up she pinched nervously at the bridge of her nose, thinking for a moment. "And what about you? Surely the plan wasn't to come and sit in the middle of an alleyway with a woman you've just barely met."

[member="Theseus Reneun"]

 

[Williamice2]

[member="Shalimar"]

Theseus shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows, it's possible I am here for the reason of sitting in the middle of an alleyway with a fascinating woman who I've just met." he replied to her and smiled a little. "Honestly, I despise this planet... well more of my history on this planet. So, I'm only here because I was drawn here by the feeling I had some sort of business to complete." he admitted and hummed softly. Perhaps it was something as simple as helping this lady. You never knew what strange tasks the force sent a person on. Theseus didn't push for further information from the lady. It was clear she had spoken what she felt comfortable telling him, and he wasn't in the mood to give her any bad impressions of his intentions. After all his intentions were honestly good anyways.

"Well, would you be opposed to moving along with me?" he asked her curiously. "At least for a little while. I'm sure I can keep those people off your back, and it'd be nice for me to be around someone to just simply talk with." he admitted as he looked around and pulled out a few small stones that he used to meditate with. He wasn't a jedi anymore, though he still was fond of some of their teachings, and would embrace the fact that it was part of his past.

 

[Shalimar]

At those words, her expression softened greatly and the tension in her body seemed to melt away. "You are a strange one, Theseus. Not that I'm complaining." Her tone had grown more lighthearted, and a genuine smile soon spread across her lips.

With the offer on the table, Shalimar cocked her head to the side and thought about it for a moment. It wasn't every day a being offered such things to her. In fact it had never happened to date. Though she did have a question for him, "Are you certain you'd want me along? Trouble seems to always be nipping at my heels these days."

She then gave a shrug, "But if you don't mind .... It would be kind of nice to have some company, and to have a second set of eyes to help keep a look out for trouble. I just ...." Funny that in that moment, Shalimar seemed more concerned for him, than she was for herself. Nervously she bit at her lip, and found herself wringing her hands slowly for a moment before she spoken again, "I just don't want to be a burden on you. I ain't got much that I can offer, aside from my company. Been on the run for far too long to really have anything of worth, or not. All I got is me. So .... if you're okay with that .... I think I'd really like to move along with you. Might keep me safer."

[member="Theseus Reneun"]

 

[Williamice2]

Theseus nodded his head. "I'm quite sure." he replied to her. As he slowly looked around. Then calmly walked over to her, and reached out and gently touched her shoulder. "Your company is all I can expect." he admitted and gave her a warm smile. Before he withdrew his hand and looked around. "I suppose it's time we get to moving out of this alley. It's almost testing the force to stay in one place this long, and not expect something bad to happen." he admitted honestly. "Besides I've found my share of troubles on my own, so your problems can be my problems and I'll gladly help." he added as he looked back to her, and motioned for her to follow as he began to walk.

After all this was the start of something brighter. Theseus didn't know how he could tell that. Though it was the truth and he smiled a little. Theseus was slowly starting to become better at learning the concept of trust again, and he was hoping this lady was the one who fully helped him break through. He needed someone he could truly trust, and though Theseus had developed friends, found a master, and met many neat people. It wouldn't surprise him if the one that could end him up in the most trouble, was the one he came to trust the most.

[member="Shalimar"]

 

[Shalimar]

A nervous smile spread across her lips. It was the start of something new, maybe a friendship if she was lucky. At the very least it would be someone to travel with, to watch her back and help keep one another safe. "Thank you." She whispered softly, more than grateful for his assistance. The girl, did jump slightly at the touch against her shoulder. Clearly it's going to take a while to get used to people again. Thoughts she kept to herself. "I agree. It's tempting fate, and yeah really the last thing I want is to have to deal with bounty hunters and the like this evening." Shalimar said quietly.

"I've just never ran into anyone that took an interest in my troubles, and was willing to help out. I appreciate it, even if it seems a little strange to me. Well that, and I'm not really used to being around people much if I'm honest. Though, that's a bit of a long story." She gave a small shrug, "A story it seems like I may have the time to tell you soon." Really, the details of her past now only depending on her beginning to trust him, and already the first fragile strands of trust were beginning to form. Slowly she fell into stride beside him. Those keen feral ears were on full alert as they moved, still listening for the slightest warning sign of trouble. One could never be too safe, especially here.

[member="Theseus Reneun"]

 

[Williamice2]

(OOC: [member="Shalimar"] My apologies for a ridiculously late reply, I'll be responding as soon as possible)