last_kallig: (Default)
last_kallig ([personal profile] last_kallig) wrote2020-08-08 08:53 am

AU: Bar Crawl

After the events at the Foundry, Ibani felt that both she and Ben desperately needed some R+R. There was much research and questioning of her various contacts, smugglers, pirates, spies, and other such folk for good places to drink and eat on Nar Shaddaa.

She has a list! Although her first plan is to ask Ben where HIS favorite places on Nar Shaddaa were and see if any of them exist in her when, because you never know.

In the interests of blending in, Ibani has gone for the smuggler/pirate look in brown and bright emerald synthleather with a vibroblade strapped on one hip. (She has her lightsabers too, of course, but those are more hidden.)
acertainpov: (hermit: explain)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-13 10:59 am (UTC)(link)
He gives her the most patronising smile he can, leans forward and pats her hand while he takes the tea away from her.

"Why don't you just try some of the sweets," he says, "while she fetches us some fresh tea?"

He turns the smile on the server. "I'm so sorry, my wife is really particular about tea."
acertainpov: (hermit: thinking)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-13 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
"And you don't recognise the two by the counter?" Just to be sure. He follows her lead and picks up a small cake to try.

"Could be slavers, but tourists wouldn't pop into a place this out of the way and unsignposted. Not enough for a sustainable trade. Could just be a standard way of getting rid of uninvited guests at a members only club."

"But if this place was recommended to you, someone knew you were coming."
acertainpov: (hermit: still Kenobi)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-13 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Or just seeing who'd notice," he says lightly, taking one more bite of his cake.

"But I don't know why you have to always make such a scene."

This last sentence is probably because their fresh pot of tes is on its way, being brought by the human chef - male, older than the server from before, and a dangerous smile on his face. But still a smile.
acertainpov: (hermit: mulling)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-13 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh no," Ben says, his full attention on the chef to distract from hand signals, "we're sorry. It's just so hard to find good Deychin tea in this sector. We didn't mean to make a fuss."

The chef nods, his uncertainty growing. "I'd like to know what you think of it," he says, pushing the cup towards Ben.

Ben shakes his head, reaching for another cake. "I'm really more of a sweet person myself. Why don't you join us?"

The weequay is now straight up watching this. She probably doesn't even know she's doing it, but she's also resting her hand on the blaster at her hip.
acertainpov: (hermit: a task to do)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-17 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Ben makes his glance over that the weequay visible and reassuring. He meets her eye in fact, smiles and shakes his head. No need for that, he promises. Then he turns a raised eyebrow on the human.

"What happened last time we were here?" he asks, with the slightest nudge in the Force - no hand waves, just a gentle push towards telling them the truth.

The chef swallows nervously. "You threatened us. Said if we didn't pay you regularly you'd come back and destroy the place. We're already paying the Hutts, we can't afford to pay you too."
acertainpov: (hermit: mulling)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-21 10:27 am (UTC)(link)
Ben catches Ibani's eye and rolls his when she obviously decides they're going off to catch a protection racket instead of their continued fun times. Maybe he just wanted a drink?

"And has he been bothering all the businesses in the area?"

"I don't know," the chef says quickly. "I think... maybe? Why would they single us out?"

A few reasons, Ben reflects, but none that he'd keep from them. He helps himself to one last cake, and looks back to Ibani.

"Have you had enough tea, my dear?"
acertainpov: (hermit: still Kenobi)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-21 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Another day could bring them back here," Ben says, and sighs. "No, I suppose we should put our quiet evening on hold for an hour or two. And here's me with only a crude blaster."
acertainpov: (hermit: still Kenobi)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-21 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Ben, no stranger to using other people's lightsabers, nevertheless declines her offer, for now.

"Let's hope it won't come to that," he says, before shooting her a sly grin, and lifting his hand, of which Ibani has yet to let go.

"Thought it might be more believable."
acertainpov: (hermit: thinking)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-22 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Ben stops with her, looking at her face curiously before turning slightly away, letting his focus reach out into the Force to see what she sensed.

What he finds has him tilting his head, a curious expression corrsing his face before he turns back to her.

That's new.

(Well, to him.)
acertainpov: (hermit: a task to do)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-22 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Ben jogs up behind her, stops at her shoulder and peers over before shaking his head sadly.

"They look nothing like us," he complains softly. "Look at that beard."

He rubs his own thoughtfully, but doesn't draw his blaster. Instead he walks calmly into the warehouse, giving some space between him and Ibani, so when the Hounds turn, attracted by the sound of the door being kicked open, they can choose between two targets.

"So what does work with them?"
acertainpov: (hermit: still Kenobi)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-22 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oomph," he mutters, as if the careful blancing act required to communicate with living organisms and overcome forced and deeply engrained instincts was a matter of oomph.

"You go and talk to our impersonators, then. Stay out of their way."

And she's going to have to move fast, because one of the Tuk'ata has broken into a run, beginning to charge them, and Ben isn't moving.
acertainpov: (hermit: determined)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-22 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
He's fairly obvious prey as well, standing where he is as they charge, one hand towards them, and closes his eyes.

He's never sensed this much Dark Side in a non-sentient being. Animals are creatures of emotion and instinct, and he's senses fear before, but this level of hate...

He keeps his eyes closed, keeps his hand out as they race.

He breathes, carefully and calmly, and reaches out to them, past the twisting of the Dark Side, towards their minds.

It feels like it takes forever, every second lasting an hour or more as they close in.

And then, everything gets a bit calmer.

He cranks open an eye and looks down his arm to where the hounds are snarling a few feet away, their desire to tear his throat at in clear conflict with a very strong desire not to do that.

Without letting them go, he flicks his glance over to Ibani, just to check how she's getting on.
acertainpov: (hermit: determined)

[personal profile] acertainpov 2020-08-23 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
It's a struggle, and there's a determined edge to his expression that she won't have seen for a while, not even when he had a lightsaber in his hand. This is a very different process.

Slowly, as if having to consciously think about every move, Ben circles around the group of hounds, and they make unconscious steps together, a little more like nerfs that a pack of predators, although with the occasional snarl and shift of claws to remind eveyone of what they really are.

He steps towards them, and they shuffle back a shorter distance, so while the group is moving in the direction Ben wants to go, the distance between him and those teeth starts to close.

After a couple of steps there is a clear path between the rest of the humans and the door, and without looking away, Ben makes a hurried beckoning motion behind his back.
Edited 2020-08-23 09:33 (UTC)

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