Sharks and Sith

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The sign outside of Frida's Spaceport Cantina did not raise Abelain's confidence in the establishment. It seemed rather rundown, and the general appearance of the structure was shoddy at best. Despite that, he had followed his newly made ally into the structure to partake in resting after their recent battle. The lights were fairly dim throughout the building, and a gentle, soothing musical tone added to the general calming atmosphere. It was a quiet place, and the light chatter of nearby tables was evident. Various waiters and waitresses moved rapidly about, shifting drinks and meals towards their hungering patrons.

The pair had just finished with defeating a rather large mob of aggressors in a combat that had only grown more gruesome and violent as it continued. A glance at Ghorua had seemed to reveal a faint hint of regret in his voice, but the Arue'tii looked forward to better analyzing the Herglic. He had never entered into a cantina, and the scent of liquor and alcoholic beverages only brought his mind back to the drunken horde that they had fought. A mental decision was made not to partake of those drinks as they seemed to incapacitate natural inhibitions, and completely ruined any idea of common sense.

The Arue'tii shuffled slowly towards a table near the entrance, sliding into a seat, and gently wiping away any excess blood still attached to his chitinous elbow blades using nearby napkins. "Come Ghorua. Take a seat." He motioned towards the table, his gaze reaching beyond the mass of blubber and strength to eye any potential threats lurking in the shadows, but finding none.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

"Authorities are investigating an incident today, as numerous people lost their lives in what appears to be a gang-related incident. Eyewitnesses say the hostilities had begun as a fun brawl, but had escalated quickly to deadly levels."

"Ye, I saw 'em. One of the buggers was big, bigger than anything I had ever saw! And the other, it was like some sort o' demon, with one o' 'em laser-swords. I ran as quick as I could..."

"This has been Freestar Holographic Services, keeping you safe on a lawless world. Now, to Graxx with the weather."

A holographic screen was set up on the counter of Frida's, relaying what had transpired earlier that day. Ghorua had calmed considerably since then, resorting to small talk with his new friend. They had fought off an entire horde together; Something like that makes one want to have a drink.

The Shark sat down on the chair, making it creak under his weight. Thankfuly, it didn't break. Once the serving staff saw Ghorua, they rushed to take his and his companion's orders. He was well known here. "What would you like, Mr. Ghorua?"

"Oh, whatever Frida's got on tap, Jacques." Ghorua smiled, large teeth gleaming. He turned his gaze to Abelain, with a bit of a wink. "I bartend here sometimes. It's a nice gig for when business is bad. Please, order anything you'd like."

Jacques waited patiently for Abelain's order, not seeming to care about either of the two's physical appearance.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The commentary of the local holoscreen was intriguing, and the various words used to describe the previous events of the day captivated the attention of the patron. The slaughter had indeed started only as a petty brawl between several drunk and rowdy individuals, but it had escalated rapidly into a bloodbath. Abelain cast a quick glance towards his ally at the mention of the big 'bugger', and wondered whether the actions were really their own faults. It seemed unlikely that they could be blamed for defending themselves during what had arguably been a lethal assault against them. Their opponents had escalated from using mere fists, and even batons and clubs, and had started wielding blasters and rifles in an attempt at murdering them for the sake of a good story.

The seat that Ghorua decided to take seemed to audibly creak under his immense weight, and the Arue'tii regretted not seating him somewhere more sturdy for a brief moment, anticipating that the chair would crack and disintegrate before him. Thankfully, it managed to hold it's own, and a server arrived only seconds later. The Herglic greeted him as though they were old associates, stating that he often worked at the establishment whenever he wasn't busy for the sake of supplementing his income. That brought to mind the question of what Ghorua actually did for a living, but Abelain decided to wait until he had consumed drinks before interrogating him; an obvious wish that his inhibitions would be annihilated by the liquor and allow for easier questioning.

"If you have something composed of fruit, I would gladly partake in it." He cast a glance towards Ghorua before stating, "I'm not quite familiar with this setting, and therefore do not know what drinks are commonly served." The choice to consume something made of fruit was based on a logical deduction created in observance of the Herglic. He seemed to have been excited by the bloodshed of previous events, and the thought of presenting raw flesh in front of him seemed to be an invitation for disaster, or conflict.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Jacques nodded knowingly, a slight twitch of a smile marking his face. "Of course, sir. We do have the Tri-System Fruit Salad. I've been assured that they are, eh, 'yummy yummy'." Jacques then turned to Ghorua. "And you?"

Ghorua crossed his arms over his chest amiably. The gesture of choosing something vegetarian wasn't lost on the Herglic. "Yes, I would like my usual, please. As for drinks... Hmm..." The Shark mulled over a few options in his head. "How about that vintage we got last month? Tarisian, I believe, for the both of us." Ghorua had tried the wine before, and knew it to have a distinctly tropical flavor, noting his allies taste for fruit.

Jacques bowed deeply to the pair. "Of course, Mr. Ghorua. Right away." With yet another bow, the waiter scurried back to the kitchen.

The Herglic put his massive elbows on the table, making the polished metal creak like the Shark's chair. He sized up Abelain again, noting his mannerisms. After a brief pause, Ghorua spoke, his rich bass voice droning over the slight hubbub around them. "You interest me, Abe. You mean to tell me you've never been to a pub before? Now, that is a crime in and of itself. And you strike me as... new to the galaxy's wonders. Am I correct?" Ghorua smiled brightly, letting the Arue'tii know he was enjoying analyzing his company. The colossal being enjoyed flexing his intellect every one in a while. Ghorua had learned a long time ago that each being in the galaxy was like a puzzle, and putting the pieces together would lead to greater understanding. He used this philosophy in battle, as well as in normal conversation. If nothing else, it gave him something to do.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The very idea of a Tri-System salad was intriguing to the Arue'tii. It's name seemed to imply that it contained various fruits and vegetables taken from three different solar systems. When one considered the unlikeliness that the vegetation on those planets would combine perfectly to form an edible meal, it was truly amazing. Abelain made a mental note upon hearing Ghorua mention that he would be having his 'usual'. That indicated that he spent enough time here away from his usual work that the waiting staff would be fully aware of his dietary constraints, restrictions, and preferences. If he had to guess, it seemed likely that the dish that the Herglic had ordered would contain large amounts of meat, with supplementary other items to provide additional flavor. It wasn't always wise to make conclusions however, and the Sith decided to simply observe.

The table creaked under the massive weight of his companion as he placed his elbows upon the table, and once more Abelain awaited for the entire construction to simply vanish into a wreck of debris. The Herglic questioned him about his statement of never having entered an establishment such as the one they were sitting within, and compared it to being a crime. It had never been an interest of his to associate for long whiles in the company of inferiors, listening to their pitiful issues and complaints as they consumed a psychoactive drug that hindered their ability to think, but it stood to reason that there were those that enjoyed the atmosphere. It interested the Arue'tii that Ghorua had managed to deduce that he was newer to the galaxy and it's wonders, but he decided to grace the comment with an answer: "I have never been to a cantina. You are also correct in your assumption that I am new to the galaxy, but already I have seen great things."

There was an urge to practice his own skills of deduction and reasoning, and that required intense observation. First, there was the clue that Ghorua could fight quite well, but that he seemed to lack any dedicated disciplines to his style of combat, relying more-so on barbaric and brutish assaults laced with precision. He didn't act in the manner of soldiers; something that the Arue'tii was constantly surrounded with aboard his ship. Second, the hint was given that they were both currently upon the world of Nar Shaddaa; a criminal hive. That combined with the mention that he came to the cantina on a regular basis to act as a server indicated that his work was unsavory, and that jobs were not always available. That ruled out guard, or law enforcement of any kind. The final indicator of evidence seemed to be the size of the giant ahead of him, which eliminated the idea that he might fly a vessel with any sort of talent; his hands were simply too large. "You are a hunter. Am I correct?"

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua the Shark smiled widely as Abelain spoke. He had come across another of his ilk, it seemed; A thinker, encased in the body of a fighter. Men often assumed a person had to possess either a mind or muscle, brain versus brawn, always one or the other. But they were very wrong. To be a hunter, one had to have both.

"You are correct, sir! Ghorua the Shark, Bounty Hunter Supreme, name feared across the galaxy!" The Herglic gestured with his arms wildly, building up his own bravado. With a slight chuckle, the Shark brought his giant meaty hands into his lap. "Or so I hope, someday. If I survive long enough to become infamous."

The hologram in the center of the room lit up with weather reports for the planet. Mostly acid rain and cloudy, polluted skies, as always. Nar Shaddaa was indeed a cesspit, for those with either nothing to lose, or everything to gain. The ecumenopolis was a good place to go if you wanted to become anonymous, quite the difficult task for one so unmistakable as Ghorua.

"Well, if you've never been to a cantina, I've got some stories for ya. I've done my share of time in bars, either bouncing, serving, drinking, or when I was on the job." Ghorua looked to behind the counter, where a Duros woman was waving. Frida was a nice lady, kind enough to let him go off to do work, and come back when he needed the credits. "I'm sure you have your share of stories yourself. You are a Force-User, after all," he said, thinking back to their duel. Only Forcies had ever hit him that hard, and he had seen Abelain pull a rock to his grasp. "And considering I've never met a Jedi with a red saber, is it safe to assume you are Sith? To be quite honest with you, Sith have always been much more hospitable with me than Jedi." Jacques would be back with their food and drinks momentarily, and Ghorua would rather not have the waiter know anything too important. He knew the guy, but not that well.

Ghorua exhaled through the blowhole on his head, a light hauum escaping from the orifice. The Arue'tii seemed to be very to-the-point, avoiding the flowery language and flair that the Shark enjoyed so very much. Ghorua felt like he was beginning to put the pieces together, and he enjoyed what he saw.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The faint scent of cooking food, and the sound of bustling tables excited a vague hunger within Abelain, and he anxiously awaited the arrival of their chosen dishes, and of the promised drinks. His eyes locked upon those of the being in front of him, wondering at the intellect that hid behind his eyes. There was no doubt that the brutish and brawny figure ahead was a strategist, and a fairly talented observer. It had been a long while since he had encountered one of those, and the last had proven to simply be faking his intelligence using knowledge gained prior to their interaction. Ghorua spoke, confirming his suspicions that he was a hunter of some manner; specifically a bounty hunter. He hoped to become renowned throughout the galaxy; a common goal of a majority of individuals throughout the universe.

Abelain didn't need recognition for his deeds, but even he could appreciate a positive response to his actions. The central hologram began to speak of the oncoming weather, and a quick listen indicated that it was completely atrocious. It was a wonder that crops, or even animals could survive whatsoever upon the acidic and vile planet, but they had managed. He had not yet experienced the acid rain, and could only wonder at it's level of acidity; as to whether it would be capable of burning through his chitin. It seemed unlikely, but there was always the potential for surprising events, and he dare not chance fate.

The Herglic offered to share stories of his time in bars and cantinas with his multitude of duties ranging from bouncing, to serving. He mentioned that Abelain likely had a plethora of adventurous stories to tell as well, especially since he was a 'Forcie'. He was indeed a Force sensitive as was his birthright as a descendant of Sarith. That was an easily drawn conclusion given their previous trial of combat against one another only moments previous, and the mention of his crimson saber betrayed the fact that he was a Sith. "You would be correct. I am a Knight of the One Sith. I tore this weapon away from the hand of a dead Iridonian champion, and have wielded it since." He spoke, setting the cylindrical weapon upon the table and pushing it towards Ghorua in case he wanted to view it more closely. Most people would have resented the idea of placing a deadly device such as the lightsaber into someone else's hands, but truthfully it could barely harm him through his natural armor.

The gentle noise that emanated out from the Herglic's blowhole was curious, and Abelain was unsure whether to take it as a sign of enjoyment, or of another emotion. There was also the chance that it was a completely natural act with no mental command necessary such as blinking or salivating. "I too have had trouble with the Jedi in the past, especially with their hypocritical warmongering. You state that you are a bounty hunter? I may well require your services at some point in pursuing a particular irritant, but we may discuss that after we feast."

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

"Ah, the One Sith." The Herglic's smile seemed to widen even further. "Quite the bunch, the One Sith. Vicious, ruthless, and with deep pockets. My kind of people." Ghorua laughed deeply. He'd done a few jobs for the OS, which included fighting in their Civil War a while ago, on Courscant. It was quite the battle. Sith were literally littering the streets, red sabers clashing, the whole battle seemed rather forced. The Shark decided against saying that pun out loud. Even he could tell it was a terrible joke.

The Herglic examined the weapon placed before him, taking up the cylindrical object in one massive fist. He wouldn't be able to activate it with his large digits, but he felt the hilt almost religiously, drinking in the feel of the weapon. He was no Force-user, but he did know his weapons. "An Iridonian, eh? If my memory serves me, that's Zabrak lands. Mighty warriors. I once dueled a Zabrak Sith. He was quite the warrior, but I bested him." Ghorua placed the lightsaber back on the table, and slid it back to it's owner.

The second Abelain mentioned a potential job, the Shark smirked. "Of course, I would be happy to assist you in whatever 'irritants' you have, hauum. Who knows, perhaps I'll give you a discount for my services. You did fight at my side, after all. I respect that." The Herglic felt a bit unprofessional, not negotiating a job in all of his gear, but he figured his company wouldn't mind.

Just then, Jacques appeared, seemingly apparating behind the pair, food and wine in tow. "Here you are, sirs." The Human poured the Tarisian Wine into goblets, and placed them daintily on the table. Then came the food. Abelain received his fruit salad, a wide spread of colorful berries, larger melons, and citrus-y delights that could fill a hungry bantha. In front of Ghorua was a large bowl, filled to the brim with leafy greens. Ghorua's 'usual' was a salad. One wouldn't assume Ghorua to be a vegetarian on first impressions, but the Shark's brain didn't allow for anything else.

"Thank you, Jacques. That'll be all." Picking up a large fork, Ghorua dug in. He was starving after the brawl. The Herglic had burnt plenty of calories, and needed them all back. His appetite called for lots of salad.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The statement about the One Sith was admittedly quite true. It was disappointing at times how brutish and cruel the One Sith were, but at other times their tactics were admirable in their logic. They had proven themselves to be remarkably powerful, and it was one of the reasons that he had initially joined with them upon beginning his extended sojourn into the galaxy. Abelain glanced at the Herglic ahead of him at the mention of deep pockets, and immediately understood why Ghorua might especially enjoy the company of the Sith; they hired mercenaries and bounty hunters far more often than Jedi. It seemed impractical that the Jedi didn't allow themselves the services of trained professionals for their issues more often, but their entire ideology was faulty, so he supposed they had greater issues to fix before moving to that particular policy.

There was a mention of an Iridonian that had been bested by Ghorua, and that the people resided in Zabrak lands. "Are not the Iridonians and the Zabraks the same people?" He interrogated, suddenly having questions about his previous information. He was almost positive that they were the same, but the wording by the Herglic carried slight confusion with him, and his ignorance of galactic understandings showed. He shook his head, dismissing the argument with a flick of his hand, a sign not to answer the question before continuing with the conversation. "Personally, I've found them to have a particularly aggressive temper, coupled with extreme arrogance that gets them killed. Perhaps they are renowned as great warriors to some, but to beings such as we, they are mere trifles."

The human known as Jacques appeared at the end of his sentence, alerting them to the meals readiness, and placing the platters beneath their respective patrons. The fruit salad seemed delightful, and the Arue'tii had to congratulate it's chef on the presentation of the colors. They were arranged in a manner that reminded him vaguely of the artistic paintings that were commonly created throughout the galaxy, and that decorated most institutions. He clutched at the metallic instrument near the dish, using it to pierce a colorful red berry. He brought the delectable item to his mouth, biting down on it with evident curiosity, and twisting his head to the side as he analyzed it's taste, and consistency. "Quite sweet." He spoke, using the fork to grasp at another set of fruit and continuing his meal.

It was curious that Ghorua; the bloodthirsty barbarian that he appeared to be, preferred to eat a salad as opposed to some manner of venison or flesh, but Abelain refused to judge him for his eating habits; especially when his own were quite taboo to the inferior species. "The liquid smells the same as that which intoxicated the men and women of earlier. Are you absolutely certain that it's ingestion shall not cause us to lose our mental prowess? I'd hate to do something... regrettable." He had committed multiple acts of murder, battery, and assault perhaps only half an hour earlier, and felt little regret, but everyone had a line that they wouldn't consciously cross.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

"Ah, yes, Iridonia," the Herglic said, through a mouthful of salad. "It's a planet, one of the numerous homes of the Zabraks, from what I've heard. So yes, Iridonians and Zabrak are one in the same. Iridonian ones, though, they have a bit of a dangerous reputation." Ghorua washed down his meal with a quick sip of the wine. "But, I don't know too much about Zabrak culture. Perhaps you can find an Iridonian, and ask them yourself before you kill them." A quick flash of a smile, and he was back into his food.

Ghorua was happy to hear Abelain's curt reply to the food set before him. That was quite the compliment from one with such a straight-forward speech pattern. The Shark figured that was about as much emotion as he would get from the Arue'tii.

When his companion inquired on the nature of the drink, Ghorua laughed. He too could smell the alcohol in the drinks, a slightly intoxicating aroma. The Herglic could understand Abelain's concerns. His only experience with the stuff was almost deadly. "No worries, Blades. Well, unless you can't hold your alcohol, then I would be concerned for everyone in this cantina. But in small amounts, it helps you relax." Ghorua wasn't an alcoholic by any means, but he did enjoy the odd drink. Mostly, he stuck to water, as being drunk on the job was completely unprofessional. To be fair, the Shark didn't even know if it was possible for him to get drunk, due to his genetic modifications. He would never test his limits, no matter how curious he was. A drunken Ghorua would probably end with many dead. Heck, a non-drunken Ghorua usually ended with many dead.

Ghorua took another sip of his wine, enjoying the sweet, nectar-like taste. Quite the drink, this one.

"Go ahead, try it. I guarantee you'll enjoy it." Secretly, he wondered how Abelain would react to the drink. Perhaps that icy exterior would melt away. Perhaps it would only strengthen him. Perhaps he'd transform into a terrifying murder monster. Only time would tell.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The knowledge about Iridonia and the Zabraks was stored away mentally for later use. It had not occurred to him previously that certain species might dominate multiple planets, but it was a thought that revealed an idea. His own home world was harsh, and destitute in terms of natural resources required for any sort of space-age industry. It was completely possible however that they could simply establish outposts upon nearby worlds, and use their resources to accomplish tasks. There would need to be a vote by the Council, but it was decided that he would mention the idea of off-world bases to the elders as soon as he returned to Ghul. He lazily stabbed another piece of fruit with the fork, allowing it to slip into his mouth before gouging it to pieces with his true teeth. "Where do you come from, Ghorua?" He questioned, his thoughts lingering on home.

His question about the safety of consuming the alcoholic beverage was answered quickly by the Herglic with a laugh. It could be inferred that the drink was not harmful to his physicality from that simple gesture of humor, but he decided to listen to the warnings given before partaking in it. He listened carefully, his eyes piercing the drink with a gaze befitting a fearful prey animal glaring down at the eyes of a hungering predator. It seemed that there was a chance that a small amount would inebriate him, but it was far more likely that it would require multiple drinks of the liquid before any negative effects could be felt, and that it provided a certain recreational feeling. He cast a final glance around the cantina before slowly grasping at the mug, and lifting it to his mouth. He allowed a sliver of the drink to spill down his throat before returning the drink to it's table. It tasted delightfully sweet, and was reminiscent of nectar.

Ghorua was correct that even drunk, he would probably be capable of defeating everyone in the cantina. If any of them payed any attention to the news, they could probably infer who the two were, and would probably be adamant about leaving them to their business. "This is remarkably sweet. It is a delightful drink, but I cannot understand why anyone would consume more than a small amount, especially with the chance of inheriting stupidity from it's consumption." He returned slowly to his salad, scooping up another bite of the meal.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua frowned as Abelain asked him about his home, taking another sip of his drink. It wasn't a touchy subject per se, but the thought of where he came from left him slightly melancholy. "Well, my species, Herglics, come from Giju. I've never been there myself, but I've heard it's wonderful. It's one of those water-worlds, you know?" The Shark didn't even know if he counted as a true Herglic anymore, given his genetic modifications. He took another bite of his salad, enjoying the crisp leaves. "I come from Courscant, Lower City. Quite the place to grow up. You've gotta learn to think on your feet, and take a hit or two." Ghorua found his smile again, chuckling a bit to himself. "Perhaps that's how my charming personality came to be."

The Herglic watched intently as the Arue'tii took a tentative sip. When Abelain gave his diagnostic of the drink, Ghorua nodded. "Well, people drink for different reasons. Some people don't care if they inebriate themselves, tossing their mind to the side for the sake of having a good time. Others try to get drunk, to forget. Some do both." Ghorua shrugged, large shoulders bobbing up and down. "Most people don't drink too much in one sitting. I don't. I just like the taste of the stuff." Another large fork's worth of greenery was lost down the Shark's gullet.

Ghorua smiled again, quizzically looking Abelain up and down. "Where do you hail from? I've never met one of your species before."

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
It came as no surprise that the Herglic species had originally emerged from a world covered in water. It did however come as something of a surprise to hear that Ghorua had never been to his ancestral birthplace. It seemed that such things mattered less in the greater galaxy, but Abelain reflected that he was satisfied that he had known his homeworld before embarking away from his home. The Arue'tii was familiar with worlds composed of water, and one of the first planets that he had visited within the greater galaxy had been Glee Anselm; the location of the Sith Academy. It had not been the most pleasant of worlds, nor had it held any positive memories in his mind. In fact, the only thing that it reminded him of was his traitorous ex-master whom he had slain upon the swamp world of Dagobah.

He heard a high pitched clanging noise that emanated from the table, and looked down to see that he had slammed the fork into the plate with considerable force. It seemed to him to be an unintentional movement created by the emotion that surrounded that subject, and he decided quickly to direct his thoughts towards something less harmful to the cutlery. His attention returned towards Ghorua, catching that he had been raised upon the world of Coruscant. "The lower cities of Coruscant seem rather vile for raising children." It seemed that the city had acted as a crucible for the young Herglic in his younger years, likely forging him into the weapon that he was today, and setting him upon his path. There was a certain level of understanding that Abelain could give for wanting to become a hunter after growing up in that scenario. The hunter was in charge of their lives, and they were feared and respected, never to be threatened by scum.

The conversation shifted to the topic of drinks, and the Arue'tii raised his glass once more, taking a deeper sip than previously, but returning the glass to it's place before it was completely emptied into his gullet. The meal before him seemed to have faded somewhat from the majestic splendor that it had once been, and partially sliced chunks of fruit littered the platter, awaiting him to hungrily wolf them down. He conceded, scooping up another set of colorful fruits and snapping into them with considerable delight. Some people drank to forget their problems, and perhaps even to forget the actions that they had committed. "I concede that there are some things that ought to be forgotten, but one does not learn from ignorance, only through experience."

Ghorua questioned where he had come from, and Abelain's thoughts traveled back to his home. "I come from the planet of Ghul. It is hidden away, and we have only ever had visitors to our world once. It is a world covered in swamp, and dangerous animals roam it." He sighed at the memory, missing it despite it's many cruelties. "There have been many wars, and I have fought in them before coming here." It was true that violence had ravaged the land for centuries, but when he had finally departed from Ghul, it had been peaceable. "I am an Arue'tii. Few of us have ever left our home, and those that have are explorers of the Order of Hazarin. It is named after the champion of the people who overthrew the tyrant Vandel." He paused for a moment, glancing down at his drink as if though accusing it, though in reality he knew it had not changed his inhibitions much through it's consumption. "He is the brother of my father."

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

"Ghul? Can't say I've heard of it. But something tells me you aren't surprised by that. Anyways, your planet sounds interesting, and it definitely seems like the kind of place the One Sith would adore. Bogs, beasts, and battles. What more could one desire in life?" Ghorua brought his cup to his mouth, and swigged the rest of the alcohol. It left a pleasant taste in his mouth, but he wasn't feeling the mind-numbing effects of the drink. He cultivated a sly smirk, and continued to dig into his salad. Ghorua stored away the knowledge of Abelain's uncle for later.

"This is really a good meal." He brought his voice up over the murmured sounds of the crowd. "Compliments to the chef!" A few patrons turned in the Shark's direction in annoyance, immediately looking away when they saw the terrifying visage that had interrupted them. Ghorua enjoyed their discomfort, but deep down in his mind, something was saddened by the encounter. Ghorua didn't let the buried emotion show as he laughed.

Looking around the cantina, Ghorua saw plenty of sinister people. A Gran stared at the Shark and Abelain with a disdainful sneer, each of its three eyes glued on them. A Human in full armor smoked a cigar under a wide-brimmed hat, hand hovering over a blaster pistol. The hired Twi'lek dancer on the center stage seemed to be paying too much attention to them as she performed. Ghorua knew that this was his paranoia kicking in, that they were probably just here to have a drink, but flashes of scenes of gore from not too long ago invaded his mind. He quickly tried to change the subject, to something he was genuinely curious about. "So, how much do you know about droids? Did you have them on Ghul?" Ghorua, despite his meaty, over-sized hands, was an amateur mechanic. Things such as this interested him to no end.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
Ghorua was correct in his assumption that Abelain wouldn't have been surprised by the lack of prior knowledge. Ghul was a world shrouded in the dark expanse of space, and it had only ever received visitors once. That seemed to indicate that there was no plotted out hyperspace lane to reach the planet, or that it was simply uninteresting. The mention of the One Sith loving a planet such as his homeworld did elicit an instance of fear in his heart. His people were stubborn and zealous to the point that if an outsider ever tried to assume control, they would fight until all had died. His people were mighty, and there was no doubt that the battle would be glorious, and that their foes would litter the swamps of the planet. Despite that, they were few in number, reaching only around a million beings in total. It would be a slaughter, and an extinction level event for the species.

The Herglic made a comment about the delicacies that had been presented before them, and the Arue'tii could only nod in agreement. The meals that they had spent the last several minutes consuming were delightful, and pleasant. The alcoholic beverage had also proven to be fair to his inhibitions, and general mental faculties, and it was decided simply to monitor his intake as opposed to restricting the beverage from his dietary habits. His hand clutched as the nectar once more, bringing it to his mouth where it was promptly finished with a satisfying sip. Whilst Abelain was content to express his enjoyment of the meal to his dining companion, Ghorua had other plans. His voice raised among the gentle murmurs of the cantina staff, congratulating the chef on their excellent preparation of the dishes.

Other patrons of the establishment turned their heads, and their expressions seemed to indicate a general dislike of the rowdy attitude of the Herglic. The general demeanor of the various ruffians in the building seemed just as unable to pierce Ghorua's hide as the weapons wielded by the unsightly mob had been earlier. The conversation shifted once more to the topic of droids, and specifically his mechanical understanding of them, and their presence upon Ghul. "Admittedly, I know little about droids beyond the basics. I understand how they are powered, but could not explain in depth how they truly operate." He cast a quick glance around the bar, searching for any of the electronic mimics, but sighting none. "We had one upon Ghul. It was preserved from the days of the alien refugees, and taught us the trade languages of the galaxy." His people had tried in the past to recreate the teacher, but all attempts had failed awfully. They simply did not understand the advanced machinery well enough to operate it beyond simple commands. "Do you have a fondness for the subject?" People usually didn't speak of things they didn't have any wish to discuss.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua nodded, leaning back in his chair, which squeaked with strain. "Well, I'm a decent engineer, despite these big mitts," he brought his hands up, gesturing to nothing in particular. "I was wondering if you had some secret, ancient droid-building technique. I'm currently constructing one myself."

The robot had been the Shark's secret project for some time now. He had purchased a droid-brain off the black market, and started pouring through old Holonet entries, doing his research into what sort of droid it could be. What it had been was quite the shock, and delight, to the large black being. He'd been working to create a body for the brain, but goings with the wires and such were pretty slow. Big fingers made delicate work difficult.

"It'll be good, I'll tell you that. A partner, of sorts. hauum." The Herglic let a serene smile part his lips as Jacques came over and topped off their drinks. "So, what do you like to do for fun? I mean, besides death, battle, glory, and the like." Ghorua took another sip of the drink, the contents still having no effect. Sometimes, the Shark wished he could get a bit tipsy, at least.

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The chair squealed once more under the massive frame of Ghorua, but this time the Arue'tii was confident that the object would maintain it's footing. There was a mention of the Herglic and his tinkering habits, and a motion towards his hands whilst mentioning the unlikeliness of such a prospect. It would seem rather difficult for the giant to successfully maneuver the complicated wiring and electronics of advanced devices such as droids, but stranger things had occurred, and he could suspend his questions with relative ease about the subject. The mention by the engineer of the possibility of the people of Ghul having a 'secret, ancient droid-building technique' made him chuckle; the noise emanating outwards from deep within his chest in a rumbling fashion. The idea of his people ever fiddling about with something so complex was utterly ridiculous, though in retrospect he himself had scoured the galaxy in hopes of locating unlikely artifacts, and that process had netted him some rewards in the past.

The idea hadn't quite occurred to him previously that the Herglic might suffer from bouts of occasional loneliness, but the mention of finally having a partner seemed to trigger that train of thought. The human waiter stepped forward from out of sight, slipping more of the delightful liquid into their glasses and stepping away as silently as he had appeared. "Have you never had a partner before? It seems that some of your work would be particularly dangerous to pursue alone, not to doubt your talents." The Herglic asked him what he enjoyed to do for fun, and it genuinely caught the Arue'tii by surprise. He hadn't considered what he actually considered to be fun in a while, but he could definitely acknowledge that he enjoyed the thrill of battle even if he didn't necessary enjoy the results of his labor.

In truth, his entire time out in the greater galaxy had been work. He had not stopped his work since he had left Ghul, and he would likely not rest until it had been completed. It simply wasn't the time in his life that he needed to focus on recreational activities and the things that brought him joy. Despite that, there were bound to be certain things that he would definitely repeat if given the opportunity. "I actively search through ancient temples and structures in hopes of finding valuable knowledge. I also take delight in landing upon new worlds for the first time, and seeing their diversity." In short, he liked to discover things, and for an explorer, there was no greater joy.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua took a long look out into empty space. What he said about hunting being a dangerous profession alone rang true. Ghorua the Shark would say it's about the most dangerous job there was, if one was serious about it. There were some hunters that stayed on one planet, busting drug runners and escaped criminals, and that was relatively high-risk. But those like Ghorua, that faced Jedi Masters and Sith regularly, they knew danger more than most in the galaxy could comprehend. Even with all of his speed and strength, it would only take one job to have someone wave a hand at him, and he would die.

"Well, I've had many partners in the past, but we Hunters aren't really about undying loyalty. We all go our separate ways after a while. Happened with my mentor, happened with all those I've mentored. I just want someone around that won't..." The Herglic struggled to find the right words. "Disappear after a job," he finally settled on.

Ghorua wasn't surprised when Abelain said he liked adventuring. "Ah, that makes sense. You've just been introduced to the big wide galaxy. I'm sure you've got plenty a story about your acquisitions, then. I would love to hear them someday." He chortled, and took another sip of his drink. In truth, Ghorua was also partial to seeing new things, but new things were rarely partial to him. Example, deserts. Ghorua did not like sand. It was rough, coarse, and irritating. And it got everywhere.

"Tell me, in all of your adventures out into the universe, what has been the most amazing place you've traveled too? I'm sure you've seen some sights."

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -

 

[Abelain Narv'uk]

[member="Ghorua the Shark"]
The way that the Herglic's features seemed to somewhat blank, and the lack of expression in his eyes as he stared off into nothingness seemed to indicate that the large being was remembering something. It was a common enough sight throughout the galaxy, and the Arue'tii reflected on times that he had walked in on some of his own people glaring off into the void, as if though it would provide them answers if they simply stared for long enough. In times such as that, the senses dulled themselves into oblivion, and individuals became lost in their own minds. The idea of entrapping someone within their own mind flickered into his thoughts, and for a brief instance he shuddered at the potential for the Force to do just that to someone. There was a difference between being murdered; even brutally, in battle, and having to spend eternity stuck in one's thoughts.

He returned to the conversation, the setting becoming known to him once more as he stared at Ghorua. He responded to question about partners by mentioning that he had indeed associated with others of his profession in the past, but that they had all eventually left him to pursue their own agendas. It didn't seem unreasonable that the bounty hunters had scattered after work was finished, especially since there were only so many jobs in an area. It was harsh and dangerous work, but in the end it was still work, and it was hard to find when all of your 'companions' were taking the only available bounties. "I can definitely observe the advantages in having a mechanical companion. Namely, you do not have to pay it for it's work, and it can provide additional assistance on hunts for difficult prey." He looked upon the large hands of the Herglic, remembering how he had stated that he was the one constructing his own machine, and then down at his own appendages. "Mayhaps I ought to create one myself." He had a personal guardian to ensure his safety, but there was no such thing as having too much security.

The question was asked about what the most impressive sight that he had ever laid eyes upon had been, and it took him once more by surprise. That was difficult to answer, and he felt his hand gravitating towards the nectar sweet drink before him. It was raised to his mouth, and he took another gulp of the drink, buying time to contemplate his answer before placing it back into it's position. "There has been beauty in many things that I have seen. I have watched vessels battle and die in the vast emptiness of space, exploding into flashes of light and spectacle as more flutter as birds throughout that nothingness. I have seen a planet filled with life in every spot where it may possibly exist, and I have seen a world destitute except for savage monstrosities and creatures lurking in the swamps. I've laid my eyes upon enormous structures greater than any I could possibly imagine which scraped the sky, and I've seen them crumble with age. In my hand have been held artifacts of centuries past that tell the stories of the dead, and yet I participate in activities which will one day be nothing but stories to tell to the young." He paused, casting a solemn glance about the room.

"I do not know."

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Ghorua nodded as he listened to Abelain speak. The puzzle had just added another piece to itself, letting the Herglic peer into the mind of the Arue'tii. He was not some bloodthirsty Sith, nor a calculating and cold one. Well, he may be those, but above everything, he was most passionate about discovery; something Ghorua could relate to. "You've seen plenty of the galaxy, Abe. More than most of it's citizens."

The Shark leaned forward, sharp teeth icy cold behind a warm smile. "So, you said you may have a job for me? Because if you did, that would be lovely. I've been stuck on Nar Shaddaa far too long. If I wasn't sick of the place before," Ghorua gestured around the cantina, where the dancer was squabbling with a drunken patron, each speaking in different languages, "I am now."

The holoprojector had begun to play its regularly-scheduled programming; music, accompanied by a dancing Togruta. Slow jazz was the name of the game in Frida's. "Tell me, what might this job entail?"

- [member="Abelain Narv'uk"] -