The Music of the Night [Connor Harrison]

[Lief]

She couldn't help but pout when he pulled away again, sometimes it was hard to read this particular Jedi. Still she didn't mind, it was nice to have that conversation behind them and onto better things.

"Well good, don't know what I'd have done if you'd gone all monk on me" she said, sticking her tongue out to him.

Walking alongside him as they wandered back into town, Kai could not help but feel particularly lucky that Connor wasn't judgmental or trigger happy when it came to people like herself, his patience was something she had never experienced in another before.

"The Republic Jedi allow everything in moderation" she quipped, quite carelessly, "Relationships, alcohol, murder..." Oh yes, Kai had heard quite a lot of things about the Jedi and their entourage in her youth, Jedi Masters flying off the handle and slaying mercilessly, even their own. It wasn't something she, as a normal denizen of the Galaxy, appreciated.

Steering their direction toward what must've been the nicest looking building in the entire town, Kai smiled and gestured for him to enter. "After you, good sir" she said, with a humored smirk, feeling all at once more lively and playful.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Giving the girl a quizzical look at her statement, Connor remained quiet – the Jedi were just as bad as the Sith to some and that was understandable. It was the individuals who shaped the Orders that gave them their name, and at times Connor wondered if he was better off in the middle, rather than on one side.

Still, he nodded to her and entered the quaint looking bar.

”Thank you,” he smiled.

This bar was much like ones he’d seen on smaller planets; devoid of nonsense and just the basics – served you what you wanted, gave you the space to enjoy it and meet with others who want to drink or laugh away their problems.

Granted, he felt a little out of place, but at least he wasn’t dressed like a Jedi so he could blend in.

”Cosy.”

Connor looked to the counter, and then to find a seat, and went to sit beside the wall in a small booth.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

She could tell he wasn't entirely sold on what she said, on the claims she made, and to be honest she hadn't expected him to swallow it so effortlessly. He was a Jedi, after all, it was sometimes hard for people to look past their own stereotypes when they were caught up in the middle of it. Kyra was lucky in that regard, she had no allegiances to get protective over.

Glancing around as they entered, the landlord of the establishment raised both arms in greeting to her, a great smile upon his face. "There she is," he began, and all at once Kyra took Connor's hand and gave it a squeeze which conveyed a very serious tone, and a moment or so later the reason why became clear. "How are you, Daia?" he asked, directed the question at Kyra with such conviction that it was clear he believed it to be her name.

Still clutching onto Connor's hand, and praying he didn't blow her cover, Kyra smiled. "Well, well," she said, to which he shook his head. "Ain't seen you in weeks, kid, where you been hiding out?" Switching her gaze between the Landlord and Connor she began to feel a little awkward, her two worlds had collided and while she had nothing to hide from Connor the same could most definitely not be said of the reverse. "Nose deep in my work, as always" she added, before biting her lip in thought.

"Think you can get us a couple of rounds of Mando-Whiskey and a jug of blue milk?" she asked, and all at once the man turned professional again. "O'course!" he said, before hurrying back to the bar to sort out their order. Kyra exhaled a heavy breath through her mouth and turned her attention to Connor, face awash with apology.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor was bemused by the little show played out before him, surprising a smile and a wince as Kyra crushed his hand out of panic, but played the part of this “Daia” with conviction. At least, conviction to a barman. Connor saw the deception straight away but just watched.

Moving away with her to a vacant table opposite the bar itself by the wall, Connor leant into her, a hand on her back guiding her.

”Daia,” he whispered, ”what have you done with Kyra Sol?”

He let her sit, before deciding to sit either opposite or next to her. He chose next to her, hitting her with his hip in an effort to get her to move up a little.

”What have you been up to then…Daia?” A little chuckle came back. It was amusing seeing her now in a situation where she was obviously uncomfortable.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

"Oh shut up" she hissed at him as they neared the seat and she sat down; when he nudged her further along the seat she gave him a disbelieving look, then rolled her eyes and shuffled across to make room for him. "It didn't make sense to add fuel to my already burning pyre" she added, keeping her tone low despite the fact that there was relatively loud music playing on the other side of the bar, which attracted the attention of most of the patrons.

She hit his shoulder as he continued to be an ass and raised one slender brow in his direction. "Pack it in, or else." All at once the landlord was upon them, dropping a few glasses of whiskey and a jug-and-glasses of blue milk. He stared at Kyra for a moment, before shaking his head and wandering off. "I came here a lot when I first landed here" she confessed, "perhaps a little too much." She didn't care to admit just how low she had dropped during the initial months, she hadn't liked this world at first and depression was a thick smog which had almost suffocated her. So she had drank away her sorrows, and became quite the familiar face in this joint.

"If you dare say anything, I swear I will be your undoing." She grit her teeth, perhaps coming here had been a mistake.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

”Daia, keep your pants on. You’ve had a hard day!”

He smiled again, enjoying winding her up.

”Here,” he pushed over a glass of whiskey, ”drink and shut up.”

He eyed the blue milk. His favourite. However…that could wait. He wasn’t “on duty” so to speak and away from everything. Connor took a glass, his first taste of alcohol for months, and raised it to Kyra.

”To friendship, K…Daia. And everything it holds for us.”

His eyes twinkled with the light and he took a mouthful.

The burning taste hit his throat, and at first he shuddered slightly and then coughed, the strong liquor taking his breath away.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

She just glared at him, before picking up the glass and downing it without hesitation. She couldn't help but think it might have been a little more exotic had she added something more to it, like some sort of (non drug related) spice, maybe even a sugary treat. Still, she had nothing on hand so the whiskey would have to be drunk straight.

Watching Connor's reaction, however, she couldn't help but laugh, practically spitting the whole drink back out in the process. "Force help you, you weren't lying huh?" Shaking her head she allowed herself a moment to chuckle before settling down her glass and turning to him. "You don't have to drink just 'cause I am, Jedi man" she added, with a coy grin.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor shook his head and waved a hand.

”No no…”he shuddered again, ”…just been a while. I rushed that.”

Getting his breath, he smacked his lips and looked around.

”Need something fruity to take the taste away – jeez. You drink this stuff?”

Connor chuckled and settled back in his seat, looking around and sighing.

”I could just retire here. I like it. The planet, the place, the people. Works for me. Away from everything but near to anything I want.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

"Rushed it?" she snickered before pulling another glass into her grasp and shaking her head, "there's no way to rush this" she added, lifting the glass slightly. "You're just a wuss." To this she stuck out her tongue and grinned at him, before settling her head to his shoulder and looking at the wall in a somewhat contemplating fashion.

"I don't think your Jedi senses would allow you to put up with half of what happens here" she said quietly, before biting her lip and frowning. "There are some sketchy figures here, and it becomes more apparent as you settle in."

Shaking her head again she settled down the new glass she hadn't quite taken a drink from yet and peered up at him, refusing to lift her head. She was feeling a little tired after their adventure that afternoon. "Was it really a coincidence? You coming here, I mean."

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Getting his breath, he smacked his lips and looked around.

”Yeah, yeah.” Connor rolled his eyes as he leant for the blue milk and settled for a glass to at least line his stomach and get refreshed. Pity it wasn’t cold, but never mind.

He held the glass in his hand as Kyra got comfortable and he joined her in looking at nothing, but actually relaxing and reflecting.

”Well, I didn’t come here to find you that’s for sure. I came to explore that Destroyer. And I did. And you were here. In all the planets, at all the times of the day and night you were on the other side. Coincidence, yes. Fate? Probably.”

The blue milk passed his lips as he took a drink.

”Maybe I could set up a place here to keep law and order – a sheriff of Jakku, or a Knight of Jakku. Ha, hm…maybe not. Might attract the wrong attention.”

He peered down to meet her sparkly eyes, and she actually looked relaxed and happy.

”What’s your game plan then? Where do you see yourself in a years’ time?”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

She rolled her eyes again and took a healthy sip from her glass, listening as he spoke of coincidence and fate. "Definitely a coincidence" she said, before shaking her head with a silly smile, "I don't know much about fate, sounds like a load of rubbish if you ask me. Still, I'm glad you chose this backwater planet to come and explore."

Swirling the contents of her glass, Kyra sighed contentedly and smiled up at him. "Oh I could picture it now," she began, lifting her hands as if setting a scene, "Connor Harrison, Sheriff of Cratertown" then she snickered and shook her head. "You're silly sometimes, goofball" she said to him, meeting his gaze as he peered down at her.

"A years time? That's a mighty long time to be thinking ahead to. I dunno, probably doing the same old stuff just somewhere else. Wherever you drag me to, I suppose. I quite like what I do for a living, to be honest with you. I don't know what else I could expect out of life." She shrugged, and closed her eyes. She didn't care so long as she could stop hiding. Hiding was bad for a trade such as hers! There was only so much she could salvage personally on a world like Jakku.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

He nodded slowly, a fair plan she spoke about but as expected – no real idea of where to go or what to do.

”Well, have a think where you goals are set and what you need to achieve them and I will help anyway I can. I’ll leave for Voss tomorrow, touch base and tie up loose ends there, and then all being well will come and get you.”

A smile over his glass, followed by another mouthful.

”Sound good? Like I say, shouldn’t be long. Gives you time to get some things together and have a think where you want your future to go.”

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Kyra knew that being moody wasn't going to help things. So instead she resigned herself to a nod and a smile concerning his plans as she leaned back against the chair she was sat in and drank the rest of the whiskey she had to hand.

"Alright, I can live with that" she said, beginning to make a calculated plan in her mind for what she needed. Luckily there was a workshop on the Bucket, which would make preparations a lot easier to handle. Still, she had so much junk lying around. She hoped she wouldn't have to get rid of too much. If it fit in her humble home then surely it would fit within her ship, right?

"You just be safe, okay?"

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a nod, he placed his hand on hers and raised his glass.

”I'm always careful. What could go wrong?”

He smiled and took a sip - but somehow knew he'd tempted fate by saying that...

[member="Kyra Sol"]