Log:Wrong Neighborhood
Just another day in the neighborhood.
OOC Date: August 15, 2021
Location: Khar Delba
Participants: Shivan as Self/GM, Tamsin Cas, Xavier Harcourt
[ Shivan (Shiv)]
Khar Delba is generally fairly quiet. The locals going about their days and keeping things in order. The frequency of pirate attacks has gone up over the months and now there is a presence that wasn't here towards the start of the year, The Sith. They are fairly new again given the routes to the planet had been lost to history, but now they were restored. Much to the delight of others that wanted to check out the lay of the land.
And what might be taken from the locals that lived there.
Khar Delba is a snowy planet and the outside the snow is falling in a peaceful way. Inside the Havenfrost Tavern, the only tavern in this place for the moment is a rather rowdy crowd that has been in the drink for hours it appears. The atmosphere is welcoming at least for the moment.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
Perhaps it was difficult, for many, to tell the difference, robes to robes, masks to masks, and so, the appearance of a figure in dark robes, wearing a plain, unadorned mask might have received no different a look from one patron than another. And this one at least, while not a regular, had shown her face, so to speak, on the world more than a handful of times. As the smaller, more slender Knight made her way into the tavern, she moved with an easy grace towards one of the free tables, not quite at the fire, but close enough to partake in the heat that was a welcome boon after the permanent chill of the planet outside the walls of the tavern.
[ Xavier Harcourt (Xav)]
Xavier had only heard of the planet back in the 'old days.' Even then, information was vague but he knew it did exist. While he never made much of a point to seek it out then, he certainly had no personal interest in seeking it out now. Yet here he is on a frozen, backwater planet and why? His masked helmet turns to regard Tamsin as the pair of dark figures settle in at a table. <"Not exactly what I would call an appropriate first date."> Look at that: a joke with zero humour. A black glove brushes the snow from his shoulder. <"What brings us here?">
[ Shivan (Shiv)]
There are faces that turn to regard the two figures, Khar being small enough of a space that most remember Tamsin's mask. But the other was new. And therefore drew far more curious glances. There was a nod given from the tender. A droid winds it's way over to take the order of the two that settle in.
The group of bedraggled looking men who are drunk beyond saving at this point are getting a bit hot around the collar at something that one of the locals has told them. Causing a bit of a grunt to come from one of the bigger humans that are with them. It appears like the night might be heating up or it could cool down really fast. One might never know.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"Because I find myself something of a student of history. And of places which are far from the beaten path." Which this planet certainly was, in almost every regard." The knight's voice, despite the vocorder which distorted it, was almost mild, and the mask turned towards one of the droids who made their way to the tables, "A glass of water, thank you." She looked back, to see if her companion would choose to place an order for himself.
The sound of a rising disagreement brought another shift of that mask, though there was no way to tell what thoughts were playing out behind that facade. Words, though, offered some insight, "It seems no matter how far you go, the galaxy never changes."
[ Xavier Harcourt (Xav)]
<"History, mmm? Pick a century. Learn it. The rest repeats."> The foreign mask that is Xavier turns slowly, deliberately to scan the room and the several pairs of eyes that appear to be coming his way. Rendered expressionless, there is a slight tilt of his head that could either be curiosity or a dare. It solely depends on the state of inebriation of the receiver.
To the droid, Xavier merely says, <"The same drek as everywhere, I reckon?"> A Coruscanti accent is rather thick when he says it. <"Brandy, then. If it isn't frozen like everything else."> The droid moves on and Xavier looks over at the rabblerousing. <"No matter how far one goes or how long one lives.">
[ Shivan (Shiv)]
This place was indeed full of history. And it had a temple of the force, so plenty of things to learn in that regard! There is a push and a shove that happens at the bar. Which is always the catalyst to something bad following it very shortly. There's the cracking of glass just on its heels.
The droid gets detoured from their drinks and rolls behind the bar with a shriek of binary.
A full bottle is thrown, spewing forth alcohol and misses it's intended target. Beyond that target is the table that Tamsin and Xavier were settled at and it is heading for the larger of the Knights, Tamsin has time to catch it though, lest the man get bonked in the head with a bottle.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"I find that opinion quite a reductive one. It may very well be that everything repeats itself' as you say, because such attitudes exist. But, to each their own. You are welcome to return to the ship, or find another means of transport back to the more populated worlds, if that suits your current mood." There was no shift in tone from that voice. It was clear that the Knight had no opinion in what choice her companion might make.
The sound of breaking glass paused her words and her attention snapped towards the roiling beginnings of a brawl. As the bottle tumbled in the direction of her table, there was the slightest tilt of that helmet, and the bottle stopped in midair. Nor the booze that had spilled from it though, so that would be a mess to clean up afterwards. Well, that was what droids were for. The bottle, at least, soon settled itself on the top of a table, occupied by a party which had not ordered such a thing. "On the house." Mild amusement there, in those words.
[ Xavier Harcourt (Xav)]
<"You and I share a difference of opinion on the term reductive,"> comes the flat reply. <"I rather like that history is so repetitive. Makes predicting it the second or third time through easier."> A pause. <"Usually. Either way, I am always open to being proven wrong. It's why I opted to come; why I opt to do several things that I do.">
The situation escalates about as predictably as alcohol can facilitate and Xavier does nothing to try to mitigate it. If nothing else, it provides him with a bit of entertainment. That is, of course, until the first bottle starts flying his way. Sluggish on the reaction, the helmet wouldn't be able to move in time before the object smashes into his mask.
But it doesn't. It stops mid-air just as Xavier's reaction kicks in enough for him to flinch. Well, that could've been messy. His fingers twitch a little but the man does not stand yet.
[ Shivan (Shiv)]
The tavern goes silent when that bottle is caught in mid-air by...nothing. While this was a place that had dealings with Force Users it wasn't an everyday occurrence to witness that power used. Even if one of their regulars was one. And it's easy to tell the locals from the pirates. The locals that were involved with the drunken hijinks withdraw with murmurs of apology, having sobered faster than any dunk in an icy barrel would do.
The 'guests' of the planet however look to the table that Tamsin and her companion are at. "Ah, so there are witches here." one of the older men sneers. "Maybe we came on the right night to see some tricks." the man jokes to his crew.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
If the knight noted the withdrawal of the regulars, it did not appear to register. One grew accustomed to such things, being as she was, even on worlds such as this one. And certainly, there seemed to be neither ill will nor malice towards the locals and their choice to retreat, rather than come to the aid of one, well, who might not at all require it. Best to take the high road of retreat, all around.
Tamsin, though, remained seated at her table, though she did at pay the man the respect of turning in his direction. "Only one." Xavier, even masked, hooded, and robed, could not be mistaken for a 'witch'. The shoulders were a dead giveaway. As for the trick, that received no response, save for the sudden deformation of the jokester's throat, as if a vice had closed around it, intent on crushing either his windpipe or his spine. They were so close, you see. Like hitting two birds with one stone.
[ Xavier Harcourt (Xav)]
A brow arches beneath Xavier's mask as it slooooowly turns towards the one who spoke. No immediate reply. No, Xavier is putting the man's face to memory and though unseen, a smile is starting to form. A hand has disappeared under the table and towards the gun at his hip. Gripping the handle, he draws it into sight; his thumb pulling back the hammer with a soft click.
<"They want to see tricks."> There is a playfulness to the voice that comes out: modulated yet mirthful. With a notable disconnect, Xavier watches the joker's eyes start to bulge. <"No more smart words?">
[ Shivan (Shiv)]
"Very unwise words from a man that cannot see the full picture that he is faced with." a voice comes from the rafters above. Tamsin knows that voice. Shivan's visible now and letting her legs dangle from the beam she was sitting on. Her yellow gaze is a not so tranquil though. She hops down and crosses her arms over her chest to look at the drunken pirates, who are sobering up very quickly. "If the lady wants to kill you I think she has ever right to. It would be one less of your wretched ilk in this system." she seems to think fondly of this idea.
And much like rats that are abandoning a sinking ship, the pirates start abandoning their 'captain' when things start to look grim.
There's two of them? Things are getting out of hand!
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"Man the doors." The knight's tone was hard now, as she looked at one of the droids, as though she fully expected to be obeyed. As Shivan showed herself, the 'witch' rose to her feet. She did not release the man she was holding captive, "I suppose what we are left with now, is to decide what to do with the rest of them. Should we allow this rabble to depart into the night, or do a bit of housekeeping and leave the galaxy just that tiny bit tidier?" The sound of snapping bones broke the silence following, the body that had been held by that unseen force dropping like a marionette with its strings cut.
[ Xavier Harcourt (Xav)]
The man makes a gentle grunt as the pirates scatter like duracrete rats from a burning ship but keeps his gun in hand. Now that it's there, t'would be a pity to put it away so quickly. Barrel is still cold. Though if the doors are going to be barred from allowing to escape, that just might save his night.
Xavier rises to his feet just as another makes their appearance from the rafters. <"Odd choice of entrance,"> he notes towards the new arrival with all the pomp and circumstance of a dinner guest showing up fashionably late. Casually stepping over the corpse of their fearless leader, Xavier makes his way to the cowering group and centers his shot on the first unlucky bastard in the group. <"At least make it interesting,"> he growls and sends a ballistic slug right into the man's kneecap.
[ Shivan (Shiv)]
Most of the pirates, the ones that are still less drunk than the others manage to get out the door. So it left very few of them inside. "I don't think they'll get very far. Should these two be of sufficient payment for the slights then we can leave the others. If they are not I will assist in making sure they don't get off planet." the masked Sith nods to this.
Her yellow gaze looks to Xavier and there is a bit of a chuckle, "It's my people watching spot." she offers with a shrug. Then she's off to help collect payments or help with getting rid of bodies. Either is fine by her.
[ Tamsin Cas (Cas)]
"Do with him as you please," Was the Knight's only comment to her companion. If Xavier wished to take him a piece at a time, well, that was his due. "This is your world, Lady, not mine. I have what I need." This was not a world friendly to those who would bring disruption here. Any escapees were unlikely to last long. "Do with the remainder as you will."
[ Xavier Harcourt (Xav)]
The pirate with the busted kneecap crumbles to the ground in agony, screaming for his comrades who are mostly already out of the door. Xavier stands over him, pressing a boot into the injury for good measure. <"Perhaps you should rethink your line of work, mmmm? Take a good long reflection on the decisions that lead you to this very moment."> Leaning his weight onto that boot --- the man screaming louder in pain -- Xavier puts the barrel of his gun into the pirate's thigh and fires again.
<"Remember this day."> The grin is practically leaping from under his mask now. <"And know one day, I will come finish the job."> It's likely a bluff but the pirate doesn't know that. Xavier pushes away from the crumpled man and casually walks back towards the table, regarding the new figure curiously. <"Is that right? I will make note of that.">
