Private Voices From Without

[Matthias Colcrip]

Voices From Without

Matthias sat quietly at the table, save for the sound of his fingertips gently tapping the large pint of Corellian ale before him. He wasn’t nervous, at least he didn’t think so. No he was something else; a feeling all too similar that it could be mistaken for nerves, anxiety. The misconception that they’re the same was one that was lost on Matthias, who was as calm and collected as ever. Just anxious. There’s a difference after all.

He had been off the grid for a small bit of time as of late. His recent encounter with Onrai left an impression. More importantly it opened the door to more questions. Questions that particularly angered those inner most voices that ruled Matthias’ life. Their anger was proof he was on the right track towards the truth.

It was a path he was eager to take and one he indeed sought to see to its end, no matter where it lay. But he wasn’t unaware of his chances. And in fact he was very aware the path he was on could end with his own demise instead of the Voices. In a galaxy of chaos he had no friends and few allies. A side effect of aligning himself with the Dark Side.

Despite this setback there was one he did trust. Still not knowing her true name, Blue, as she was nicknamed by Matthias after their first meeting, was the only person he trusted. While the Voices demand he leave her behind to die that day on Tatooine, another voice within said otherwise. His own voice, for once, spoke out against those that haunted him his entire life. It proved to yield positive results as the two began working together here and there; him acting the muscle and her the clever spy. The unlikely pair proved to be natural allies.

It was for this very reason he had come out of the minor hibernation he had found himself in and sent her a message. He knew Coruscant was a risky choice on the surface: after all this was where the enemies both he and Blue sought to destroy rested in power. But even all the Jedi of the galaxy couldn’t keep the underbelly of Coruscant free from corruption. Deep within the planet at one of the many seedy bars these levels had to offer was Matthias, awaiting hopefully for his friends arrival.

He needed help. He only hoped she’d be willing to extend that helping hand.
​

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Voices from Without
Reconnecting with Matthias Colcrip ​

When the staff walked, the floor planks did not squeak. It was hard not to notice as the hours passed. Rowdy crowds, happy friends, enamoured lovers all moved through the establishment, ordering cheap but substantial meals and cheap alcoholic beverages. Every other step seemed to make the old planks moan under the pressure. What might first have been an annoyance soon turned into a familiar sound, hinting of the ebb and flow of customers. Meanwhile, the two waitresses seemed to know exactly where to step to pass quietly. Some visitors were there on business, dressed in nice suits and speaking with hushed voices. Others simply had a good time, enjoying each other's company.

The first waitress looked to be in her early thirties with glamourous blonde hair, an easy smile and athletic shoulders. She seemed to be in charge and spoke with a bright smile and an upbeat tone. From time to time, she put a hand to the small of her back, indicating that she was in a bit of pain - but it was something which she hid well. The second looked more like a teenage hourly worker, her uniform was tidy but a loose shoelace and a few strands of reddish blonde hair hinted at someone who had to rush to get to work after their studies. A blue bag with a university logo sat by the door into the kitchen behind the bar.

'Evening or night' was all they had agreed on - and it appeared as if the Agent was taking her time in getting there. As the hours passed, the sun settled - soon the main source of light from the outside consisted of street- and speeder lamps lighting up the skies. Still, cause was offered for him to stay. Hints of her presence kept returning if he ever seemed to consider leaving. Sometimes, it was a whiff of perfume reminiscent of the one he would recognise from Canto Bight, sometimes, it was music either pertaining to said planet, or the colour blue. Pinpointing who it was that made it all happen was hard, however, for many passed by his table and the music appeared to be automatically selected from a playlist.

At one point, the crowds started to thin. The little bell by the door rung at an increasingly intense rate as people left the establishment to return home, walking out onto the wide landing pad outside. Eventually, the senior waitress could be heard letting out a merry "Rana, you're closing tonight, right?"

Already vigorously cleaning empty tables and struggling to put heavy chairs in order, the shorter waitress offered a struggling but eager "Yes, Ms. Omlyn" her voice was light and accent clearly from the galactic south.

"Good lass" the waitress hollered back before emerging from the kitchen area, now dressed in an elegant coat.

Before long, the establishment would be empty, with only Matthias and the girl left. Cleaning the table next to his, she threw a few glances at him. When she finally got to his table, she stood with a straight back, puffed up chest and hands clasped behind her back to offer a polite "Sir, we are about to close" Her eyes seemed rounder than those of Ines and the Irises were somewhat larger in proportion to her face. The waitress had a bit more pronounced blush and she walked more akin to a tired teen than an adventurer. Still, a smirk appeared: It was indeed her. She took a seat next to Matthias. Remaining in character, she looked up to the man with attentive blue eyes and a sweet smile "But if you need to talk, I'm all ears"

 

[Matthias Colcrip]

Voices From Without

Matthias gave a nod with a smirk. Even without using his force sensitivity he knew that the woman before him was Blue. The alternations she had made in an attempt to vanish into the cramped galaxy may have been enough to fool most passerby’s. Matthias wasn’t just one of them though.

“Aaah,” he jokingly sighed, “I was wondering who you’d show up as.”

Taking a swig of the Corellian ale before him, Matthias leaned back and threw an arm over the nearby barstool to relax himself. He found it amusing- he had been there a few hours yet she, in true spy fashion, opted to wait until they were alone. Subtly wasn’t his strong suit. “So how long does one embed themselves undercover in a random cantina on Coruscant, all just to have a conversation,” he asked in a hushed tone, “Dedication,” he stated before she could reply, this time returning to his regular speaking volume.

He looked around once more at the bar, scanning the room with unblinking eyes while also reaching out with the Force; he wanted to be absolutely sure they were alone. With the place truly empty, his gaze turned back to the piercing blues of his ally. “Blue,” he started, his tone quickly conveying both his anxiety and anger at whatever it is he was about to say, “I need help.”

He hated asking for it. Didn’t matter who it was or where it came from, help wasn’t something he actively sought. However he recognized the circumstances faced before him. He had no idea of she’d help him upon hearing his plea, but he wouldn’t lie in saying he hoped she would.​

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan

 

[Ines Pen-Ar-Lan]

Voices from Without
Reconnecting with Matthias Colcrip ​

Rain started to pour down. It was not long before the windows filled with streams of water running down, clashing with the occasional drop hitting the window. It was nothing which distracted the Agent, however, as her eyes lingered on those of her Sith friend. All hints of annoyance were quickly and effectively suppressed upon having him greet her by hinting at her true nature. Instead, 'Rana' did as she always did - trying to hold back a giggle by putting her hand to her mouth and letting her brows and forehead form an amused expression of disbelief.

The question which followed did not make things better. Her hand fell and she laughed out loud - at least for a few moments before she raised it back up whilst mumbling a lighthearted "Stop it"

Matthias then came to the real reason he was there. Her unusually large and round eyes gained a serious look to them as she nodded. "Of course, let me just grab my homework" She offered a polite smile before standing up and making a light jog to grab her bag from behind the bar counter. Her thin arms seemed to struggle with the weight but she jogged back regardless. With a bit of effort, she produced a thick book upon having sat back down next to him. With knowing eyes, she spoke with an ever so slightly deeper voice "You are here to help me with my maths, I've been struggling" she offered another smile.

Opening the book and brushing her hair over the shoulder to the opposite side of him, she leaned against her left arm and looked to him whilst her pen moved towards the book to start making scribbles about a relatively easy equation. Soft and relaxed, she spoke a borderline cozy "What's on your mind?"

 

[Matthias Colcrip]

Matthias smirked as his agent friend continued her cover, playing off his words like a musician their instrument. Matthias himself thought he could bend with more crowds. If not using the force to conceal his true intentions he assumed his natural charm would. Yet there was something truly artful about Blue and the way she blended into the worlds she found herself in.

He understood she was just doing what was natural to her. After all her true name was still unknown to him, a perfect showcase of her dedication to the craft. It was a dedication he hoped would benefit him on his new quest moving forward. Glancing at the book for a moment he smirked before returning his gaze to her’s.

“Back on Tatooine,” he started, referring to this first encounter, “I had a moment where I seemed… distant.” He was attempting to jog her memory of the incident that day. While engaged in combat with his target there was a brief moment where the Voices had taken complete control of Matthias. The brief black out lasted only a moment though he was sure it was a noticeable one.

Neither of them had mentioned it and Matthias was planning on keeping things that way. But plans change.

Leaning forward he scratched the back of his head, obviously trying to push past his own awkwardness and get to the point he was trying to make. “There’s these Voices,” he whispered in a tone so quiet that even Blue might struggle to hear them, “I used to think I was insane because these Voices would guide me and even control me at times.” He looked back up at Blue and leaned back, attempting to relax himself now that the hard part was over with.

He had no idea how this would go over with the agent. After all he understood how insane he sounded. In fact even knowing the truth that the Voices were indeed an attempt to control him, it still didn’t stop Matthias from believing he was insane.

Whether she’d believe him or not, he’d hope she’d be willing to help.
​

Ines Pen-Ar-Lan