Still The Same

[Rash]

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Nameless Bar | Coruscant Underworld | Time N/A​

​

Dark, cold and dangerous as hell, the Underworld was still exactly the way Rand remembered it. He took a deep breath and just appreciated the fact that he was home again before stepping out of his ship. They had both seen the same empty landing platform at least dozens of times already, yet it was still as pleasing to the eye as before. The old man quickly checked that he had his trusted blaster pistol on him prior to starting to make his way toward the shady and nameless bar he had visited way too many times. It wasn't a safe haven, not at all, but the drinks were cheap as hell and actually of drinkable quality there. Rand gave the two men following him a slightly intimidating glance, telling them to leave him alone since he wasn't going to fall for their parking fee scam any time soon. He couldn't help but smile a bit to himself, though. This was the reason he loved the Underworld after all. It never changed and neither did he himself.

It didn't take the smuggler too long to reach the familiar alleyway. It was as noisy as it used to be and Rand once again had to politely shake off a few drug dealers trying to sell illegal stuff to him.

"Ye, nothin' has changed"

The old man thought to himself as he sat down on the bar seat that was 'marked' to be his. It always seemed to be empty when Rand was around, but it for sure did not bother him. After all, it was the last seat in the row and there was a lengthy gap between it and the next one. It was undoubtedly... safer than any of the other seats, mainly because surrounding the fortunate person sitting on it would be technically impossible.

The senior smuggler leaned forward and toward the used counter, motioning for one of the bartenders to come closer.

"The usual... Ahem, Ardees"

With a slight nod, the bartender left, and Rand started looking around, appreciating the... uncomfortable atmosphere of the place while taking quick glances at the other people sitting on the seats next to him, trying to spot potential threats.

[member="Ingrid L'lerim"]
[member="Gray Venasir"]

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Location: Nameless bar, Coruscant underworld
Equipment: Bio link
Actual look: current look
Tag(s): [member="Rash"] | [member="Gray Venasir"]

---

Coruscant; Ingrid always want to be here someday, and now she’s dream come true. Almost everything was perfect, except in this first time she was not a tourist. The reason why she was here is a job. Again… what else?

”Nothing can be perfect…” she thought.

Now she has a few days before she needs to be met with her contact. During these days she acts like a tourist. This was her favorite cover role. Ingrid visited museums, interesting buildings, the Senate building, everything she can do. Most of all because she don’t know when she can visit Coruscant again in the future. When the meeting day came, Ingrid went to the lower levels of the city. The place of the Underworld, where are no laws, just the crimelords’s rules. Her contact was a male nicto, who boasted he has all-important information to CIS. Ingrid doubt it, but the orders are orders. When the nicto gave her the data chip she don’t checked the card; it was not her job, she just need to bring the item back to her Hanlder. In this situation she thought about to kill the informatory, he can be dangerous in the future, but this time catch his lucky star.

After the meeting she decide to drink something, so Ingrid was looking for a cantina, or bar, whatever what she find. That was not took so long, few minutes or less until she found this bar. On a nearby alley she changes her appearance with her matrix device before she walked into the cantina. At the same time she look around, and walk to the pub counter. Ingrid sit down one of the bar chairs, and turns to the bartender.

”One corellian beer, and one star destroyer cocktail please!” she said, and smiled to the bartender.

She patiently waited to gets her drinks, when both drinks are front of her, she choose the cocktail first. She lifting up the glass, and sipping to the drink.

 

[Rash]

Ah, finally.

Rand took the small and quite used looking glass the bartender handed out for him and instantly gave the man a glance of appreciation. He leaned back and looked at his typical drink. It was exactly the kind he expected it to be. The drink looked almost like Ardees, but it still lacked the... feel of it. Oh well, he wasn't on Tatooine and the Ardees was the best he would be getting from down here, so Rand didn't hesitate at all before almost downing the whole drink. The taste and the feeling it caused inside his throat made long lost memories pop up in his head. Some of them being the ones he desperately wanted to forget. And once again the old smuggler regretted coming down to the Underworld, sitting on the stool and ordering the drink.

Rand narrowed his brown eyes and let out a moderate sigh, placing the glass on the used counter before looking around again. After all, not being aware of the situation inside the criminal bar would've been a rookie's mistake and Rand wasn't the man to make them. Not anymore.

The atmosphere of the whole illegal pub felt quite... weird. Rand wasn't exactly sure why, but it was like someone or something that didn't belong there had stepped in. His eyes wandered across the bar, eventually spotting a woman that just had to be the cause of the weird aura inside the bar. He watched as the human sat down a seat away from him, but didn't stare at her for too long. Mainly because it would've been impolite.

The bar seemed to go back to its ordinary, crooked state and Rand chuckled quietly to himself while gently sipping the remains of what used to be his drink. It wasn't too surprising that the woman had caused such a nervous reaction inside the groups of smugglers and violent criminals inside the sinister bar. After all, she didn't look like one of them, not at all. She didn't look like a person meant to be down there.

"Hmh... New blood, eh?"

Rand thought to himself while taking quick glances at the possible newcomer.

[member="Ingrid L'lerim"]

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Location: Nameless bar, Coruscant underworld
Equipment: Bio link
Actual look: current look
Tag(s): [member="Rash"]

---

Ingrid always love to test the “ordinary” people, just like the mob. She should change her appearance anything, that could had been disappear in the pub, but she didn’t. This time she wants to stand out from the crowd. She felt on her back the mobs are watching, as if she was just a prey, but that was not true. She was the predator, and the others are the prey. It was the fun part to her.

She looked up from her drink and runs her gaze in the pub. She almost waited when showing up the first “knight”, who wants to help her, or just take advantage of her. This person would be the first dead tonight. Maybe she looks innocent or someone who can’t save herself, but the looks are lead astray…

She sipping her drink again, and her gaze stuck one person. He were looked older than her, and sitting alone, just like Ingrid. She noticed before he was noticed and discreetly stared her. So Ingrid decide she choose him. She turn carefully in the direction of this stranger man.

“Did I something wrong?” she asked silently.

Of course she knows what did she “wrong”, but she want to hear that. If everyone thinks she don’t need to be here, she not want to spoil anything. Because of this she acts onward. If it needed she doing a shy smile at the man, maybe this softens the other's heart and he’ll answer her childish question. Until she waiting the answer drink out her cocktail, and open the beer’s bottlel.

She plays with the thought to tell this is her first time on Coruscant, but not yet, the time is not come yet. She knows the mob could paying attention to this sentence, but not yet. She wants to drink her beer in peace. The fight and other fun things can wait. With played nervousness she turned around where the mobs were, then looked back to the man.

 

[Rash]

Rand couldn't help but to look at his half full or... rather half empty glass lying on the counter before quickly grabbing it and downing the remains of the good ol' Ardees it still contained. Merely leaving the drink lying on the counter was risky as hell, but the prime reason Rand didn't want to wait too long before downing it all was to keep the taste as sweet as possible. Ardees might've been a cheap drink, but it still had some good quality to it. Or at least it was still the best the old man would be getting from down here.

The sudden and unexpected words that left the attractive stranger's mouth caused Rand to almost choke on his sweet drink. He instantly took a deep breath before quickly placing the glass on to the counter again, trying to look as unsurprised and presentable as he turned to eye the woman. However, his answer came in a raspy voice that had a clear tone of overwhelming anxiety in it, coupled with a small chuckle after the first word.

"No... heh. Not at all, miss"

The mature smuggler coughed a bit, fixing his posture before leaning toward the woman a little and talking in a more gentle tone, glancing nervously over his shoulder to make sure nobody walking by was listening to them. After all... unnecessary attention was something Rand really wanted to avoid right now, even more so because he wasn't alone.

"I just don't think anyone really expects someone like... you to venture down here, y'know?"

[member="Ingrid L'lerim"]

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Location: Nameless bar, Coruscant underworld
Equipment: Bio link
Actual look: current look
Tag(s): [member="Rash"]

---

It seems to Ingrid, she doing well what she wants to do. It seems to her the old man doesn’t except this. Ingrid was very entertained, for such moments she loved her job and the fact she is a really good actress. With interested look she waited the old man’s answer, and she gets what she thoughts. Positive reinforcement… the mask seemed to be a victim. Her smile disappeared from her face.

”Ah, I see…”

When the old man leans closer to her, she did the same, listened carefully to what the man said. After the speech she did just like she thinking hard, in few seconds later she nods. This time her face looked afraid, maybe she realized the situation. At least anyone could have said that.

”I think… I understand… the fact is it seems to I’m lost. This is my first time in Corsuscant, I… I just searched a bar in the surface and somehow I found myself here. Someone… mother of moons! That bastard led me astray!”

The last few words were maybe too loud, but she doesn’t care. She saw the old man doesn’t want attention, but she want. If they not get that, everything would be boring. Just one more thing, and maybe she enrage someone. So her next words will be loud and complainant:

”How should I go back to the surface, to the civilization?!”