World Turning

[Evoros]

E S H A N​

[member="Itash Mecetti"]​

Well, all things considered it had been a success.

Evoros didn't like to stay still. It would've been fun to linger on Eshan (enjoy the view, blow her paycheck on something irresponsible) but it wasn't her style. Mission complete, paycheck collected. Onto the next. She'd found staying busy was good for her health.

Caf in hand, she paced up the landing ramp and into her ship. She'd afforded a few hours after wrapping up the mission to refuel the craft, tie up loose ends, the usual, before returning to Arkania. The weather was significantly less pleasant there than on Eshan, as was just about , but looking on the bright side--every now and then she had to be the optimist--she never wanted for something to do.

Speaking of which--

She brought a hologram up from the screen of her datapad and studied her transmissions. Then smiled, satisfied rather than happy (because fun as her work could be, it wasn't always the most joyful). She'd be able to keep herself occupied; even better, the brunt of it could take place somewhere warmer than Arkania.

Evoros was in no rush, but she liked to be punctual. The ship was ready for takeoff.

But, well.
She could finish her caf first.

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

From experience Tash knew there was the smart choice and then there was the pleasant one.

More often than not those two didn't coincide.

Not for Itash anyway. No, more often than not the smart choice was the boring one, the one where he would start considering if it wouldn't be better to just drop himself from the nearest bridge and let it be done with. But the pleasant one? Well, when life lined itself up and his luck was singing then the adrenaline ran high. It was much the same here, truly. Tash knew that he had gotten off lucky comparatively. The moment Evoros had been one out of the two mercenaries Tash figured that was that.

Luck caught up with him and the next thing the Tapani would know was her claws around his throat.

Not that he would protest, if she asked nicely enough, but that was another story entirely. Point being- he got out. Got the artifact, got a whole army of Thyrsians worshiping him as some kind of deity and now he'd be off to the Corporate Sector to make their fortune.

Why tempt fate more, right?

Well.

Fate didn't know Tash well enough, if it thought its job was over for the day. He found her in the small bay of her ship, studying some kind of datapad. Didn't yet hear him- boots silent enough with that padding, so Tash leaned against the wall and studied her for a moment.

Or two.

"Mm, would that I had some flimsiplast and paint." The Tapani drawled out softly with a pleasant smirk tugging upwards. "I'd make an exquisite painting with this view."

 

[Evoros]

Her split-second shift at a voice behind her was almost imperceptible, stifled by a practised, infuriating calm. There was the slightest concern to how she held herself, the barest tension in the set of her jaw. But she was smiling, mildly amused, mildly intrigued.

She never ruled anyone out as a threat. Avoidable risks were best, well, avoided. But by now she'd sorted Itash Mecetti into the neutral space others occupied when they were a few steps shy of active threat, where she could approach with only her regular caution instead of outright paranoia. And at regular cautious she was still perfectly friendly.

"Oh, I'm sure you would," the agent replied as she set down her caf, and even with her back to him the smirk was clear in her voice.

She turned, head tilting as she regarded the Tapani. Evoros had the read of his nature noted down well enough; what she hadn't quite decided on yet were his motives.

Well, she could think of one. But it didn't entirely answer the question of why he was in her ship.

"Something on your mind?"

| [member="Itash Mecetti"] |​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

Almost imperceptible.

Though Tash didn't subscribe it to caution or even anger, no. That wouldn't be right. Instead he saw it for what it was- anxiety to be met unprepared by Itash fethin' Mecetti, what else could it be? Clearly she had wanted to get herself ready. Her posture, make-up perhaps, maybe blow her hair down a bit. After all, nobody could be presentable after the infiltration they had gone through just now.

Well.

No one except Itash fethin' Mecetti, but that wasn't exactly a fair comparison or expectation. "Oh, plenty on my mind, but ain't much proper to say out-loud just yet." The reply came swift, glib and with no shame whatsoever.

No, in fact, it was accompanied by a glance. His eye brushing down and up the curve, before smiling disarmingly. "We never did get to share another drink on Nar Shaddaa." Head titled slightly, but none of his concern was outwardly visible. For now anyway. "Such a surprise to meet you here on Eshan out of all the places then."

"A pleasant one... definitely. It cannot be a coincidence you signed up for my mercenary job, yes?"

 

[Evoros]

Oh, it felt good to laugh.

Her chuckle was light, but the mirth was unmistakeable. She could fake laughter and smiles as easily as breathing whenever the situation called- it was rare she was genuinely entertained. Alright, she should have expected that.

"I certainly envisioned my day going...differently," she agreed cheerfully. It was rare Evoros saw a strange face twice - outside of those she worked with, there was rarely time to meet new people and even rarer that she saw them again. Seeing a face she'd once lost half a paycheck to as a hiring merc? Definitely her rarest incident in a while.

"Coincidence? Hardly."

The brunette smirked.

"I'd hope it's no coincidence that I get paid at the end."

Root of all evil, but a girl had to get by somehow. She liked her job, she liked her employers - she even liked their idea that they were going to make the galaxy a better place. Very cute. But she did her work because when she retired, she wanted a television the size of a billboard.

"I'd offer you that drink now if I had anything nicer than caf."

| [member="Itash Mecetti"] |​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

He gauged her expression for a split-second, before joining in on the bright chime of her laugh.

No hard feelings then? Tash was unsure, but for the brief moment that was their reunion he was quite happy to simply enjoy her company. That did not mean he wouldn't sleep light for the next couple of days to weeks, while his business in this part of the Galaxy wrapped itself up. In two weeks he would be in the Corporate Sector and then none of this would matter. "Oh, you will be paid handsomely, be sure of that." An inclination of the head followed by that grin, because where else would Tash draw that money from then the haul he had made in 'Shaddaa?

It had been the haul of a century for him.

The caf made him wonder, if it would be worth it to... escalate this. "Mm, well, it all depends on how busy you are really." A light shrug as he pushed himself off the wall and approached her lightly. There was a light cadence to his thread.

A melody, if you will.

"We could go for a drink in the capital, if you want."

Eyes brushed briefly towards her lips. He'd rather touch something else, but sometimes you needed to go through the motions he supposed.

 

[Evoros]

Evoros didn't like to hold grudges. Not because she was such a kind and easygoing soul (ha!). It was a matter of principle--you mixed feelings up in business, you ended up making stupid decisions. Avoidable risk.

She had been livid when half her profits had been taken from under her nose on Nar Shaddaa. But now?

Water under the bridge, no hard feelings. A grin came easily, even naturally. There was no use, after all, in dwelling on the past.

An eyebrow lifted at the offer, and her curiosity ran beneath the surface. In her experience, it was safe to assume ulterior motives when it came to anyone she didn't trust (and that list was a long one). With Itash, she didn't have a great deal of trouble believing his intentions at face value, but it paid to be suspicious.

Then again, that didn't necessarily mean turning it down.
Evoros was hardly one to say no to drinks, after all.

"With an offer like that?" Her voice dropped conspiratorially, eyes glittering as they ticked up and down the Tapani. "I think I could make the time."

| [member="Itash Mecetti"] |​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Evoros"]

Smirk widened.

"I will be sure to make it worth your while then." Tash retorted in kind. "There is this bar..."

---​

​

During the trip to the capital they realized that neither of them was actually much interested in the atmosphere of a bar. Crowdy, rowdy, expensive and the music at the mercy of the next drunk idiot. Why subject yourself to that, when it was wholly possible to avoid it entirely for the moment? After some deliberation and the lucky intervention of a liquor store passing by?

They decided to stock up on some bottles and head back to her ship.

About an hour later both of them had a beer in hand and settled back down on the couch at the observatory. "Yeah, alright, this is way more comfortable." Taking a sip from the beer and relaxing a bit.

"Good idea. How's the beer?"