A Bizarre Reunion

[Hol Horse]

'Sweet dove, come home to the nest. - Fool' would read the letter that would appear on Ashlyn's bed, along with an address for one of the seedier and grimier corners of Coruscant. There would be no signs of an intruder nor a forced entry to the Priestess's quarters, save for an opened window from which a slight breeze could be felt. The address marked would reveal a set time in addition to a location, 'Midnight in the back room at the Los Lobos Cantina', as well as a suggestion to 'wear something nice' for the occasion, though what that might be was anyone's guess. The only additional clue to the author of the letter would be a strange sense of dread and anxiety that would cling like a dark cloud around the physical letter itself, tainted by the presence of a powerful dark side wielder. Besides these things though, there was nothing.

Should Ashlyn have obeyed the commands of the letter, wether through curiosity or intrigue, she would find herself in what could be termed the 'red light district' of Coruscant proper. Here strode some of the sleazier, rougher, and nihilistic patrons of the city-planet as they walked along the tiered streets. Neon signs lit up the area, various species of alien foreigners littered the streets like a sea of people, thugs and vagabonds loitered looking for trouble. It was a bad neighbourhood, but then again, that only fit the character of it more. Cantinas, hostels, clubs, and more lined the streets as drunkards and knaves wandered in and out of them in a stupor. War might have been tearing the galaxy apart, but one could never tell it from being here.

Finally, after some walking, Ashlyn would no doubt find the largest and most neon-lit of all these seedy buildings, the 'Los Lobos'. The cantina was infamous in the neighborhood, known for its clubbing, the communal use of spice by clubgoers, the strippers who prowled the dance floor, and the various mob bosses who called it home. The place was about as villainous as it came, if you could make it here, you could make it anywhere. How Ashlyn dealt with bouncers and the like would be up to her, but if she did manage to get in, then she'd no doubt find a familiar face waiting for her upon walking behind a blood red curtain into a private booth at the back of the club.

An albino Devaronian, Saladin D'vant, raised his glass as she entered, "Cheers to the prodigal child returning home at last" he proclaimed before downing the rest of his red wine. It was good to see old friends again.

@EmilyHuene

 

[EmilyHuene]

"Sweet dove?" she would repeat aloud as the voice-reader spoke the words to her written on the paper. She ran the tool over the letters again and for a second and then third time the automated voice said those words to her: Sweet dove, come home to the nest. And then the name at the end, Fool. She knew exactly who wrote the letter and a slight blush came to her cheeks. So was this his way of flirting with her? He'd be in for a sorry surprise when he'd find out not only was she already taken but to a lady at that. Silly boy. But still, it was cute. She'd go see this fool. Ashlyn had some questions for the man. The last time she'd seen him she'd invited him to her home, shown him her secret element she'd been working with, and then waking up the next morning with no idea what happened after that. What she knew for sure was that he'd taken her liquid element and forged it into a crystal for her, something she couldn't figure out how to do at the time. But at what cost...?

She walked down the streets of Coruscant hidden in a black cloak of the Inquisition. Even in this shady area she didn't want to be bothered. But she didn't want to be too disguised as someone might mistake her for some civilian female with no means of defending themselves. Gods help the poor soul who tried to pick a fight with the Confessor. Coming up to the cantina she cut her way to the front of the line forming outside and produced her double-edged saber to the bouncer. It wasn't a gift, it was a threat. He could challenge her authority, he could question her business here. But he was smart and moved aside so she could enter. His life was spared today. That was one perk of joining the Empire she could never get tired of: fear and respect. Inside she walked around the various lifeforms and headed to the back rooms. The music was loud and pounding in her head. She tried to drown it out but her ears were more sensitive to sound due to her eyesight being nonexistent. This is why she didn't come to these places. Still, she could feel the familiar presence of the scientist-Sith in the back and focused on that.

"Cheers to the prodigal child returning home at last"

Ashlyn spoke with a rather scientific and uninterested tone of voice, "I don't see how prodigal applies to me as I've neither squandered my inheritance or have parents in which to forgive me. Unless you're referring to you, and if that's the case I'm going to just slap you."

Entering into the private room she moved the curtains closed behind her and then threw down her cloak exposing her tight-fitted red dress she'd chosen for the evening. It was tight around the center down to her knees and then flowed outwards. The chest was loose but fitting to her chest and hooked over one shoulder to hold it in place. Her tattoos which covered her back and most of her sleeves were clearly visible and perfectly matched to her attire. Behind her, she had a small belt which went around her waist and clipped her saber to the small of her back. It was the only weapon she needed and never left without it. Around her neck, resting gently in her cleavage, was a silver chain that held a medallion and the same crystal he'd made for her. She would sit beside him and kick her legs up into his lap. She felt like teasing him a little while also showing off her new authority. Only recently had she become the High Priestess of the Church of Tund and she wasn't afraid to flaunt that power.

​

 

[Hol Horse]

-and there she was, come back to roost.

Sal closed his eyes and sipped his drink as the old face entered his back room. It had been some time since he saw here last- or at least it felt like it, killing jedi made time fly by. The sith inhaled the air, taking the pounding music and grimy atmosphere of the nightclub. It was perfect, a cesspool of bodily fluids, alcohol, and strobe lights all bending to the whim of the DJ's music. Was not all creation similarly predicated upon the natural order of the dark side? Of the universe? Sal believed so, perhaps thats why such a strange and admittedly enigmatic figure like him took such preference to a place like this. That thought made the fruity drink taste a little more sweet against his taste buds. He was at home, now moreso as the High Priestess closed the curtain behind her to block prying eyes from view.

"Oh? Is that so? Interesting..." the Devaronian mused, peeking one eye open to look at his little dove now that she had finally returned to him. He was aware of her new position, as well as the power that came in accordance with it. He may have been a fool, but he was no idiot after all. The albino let out a sly smirk as his yellow grimy teeth curled upwards into a grotesque smile of sorts. "My, my, my- for a priest you sure don't dress like one. Are you a harlot? I find that the two are one in the same these days, though the former is simply more adept at speaking nonsense with nothing in her mouth" the sith calmly said as he felt Ashlyn rest her own legs on top of his own. He had grown stronger, much to his own declining physical state. Absorbing the souls of Yavin IV could lead to some mildly accelerated degeneration after all. Then again, that was why he was here.

"Would you like anything to drink? The fruity ones are my favorite" he asked, pressing a button on the table to signal the waiter to come and check in on them. There was a small menu of drinks on the table, she would be free to choose whatever she wished, it was on him. The sorcerer-scientist was in a rather good mood you see, he was feeling generous that night. Sal sipped on his drink again, eyes still closed for the most part as he let the alcohol numb his brain a tad, it was a bit like scratching an invisible itch almost. "How do you like your memento?" he asked the priestess, referring to the mercurial necklace he had crafted for her. It was the least he could do after what he did to her after all, not that she would remember, he had wiped her memory before returning her.

"I hope you don't terribly mind, but before you leave here, I'm going to need your help with something. Don't worry, I won't ruin the surprise, but trust me when I say it'll be pretty great if my hypothesis is correct- which it almost 99.99% of the time is" he stated, though wouldn't move from his seat. Instead, he tipped his head back a tad more to drink the rest of his cocktail, placing the empty glass gently back down on the counter and opening his eyes to look deep into hers. His frighteningly yellow orbs gazing into her soul as if he saw and knew all, both mentally and physically. In a way, he did. Though, he would need her tonight if he were to reach the next phase in his research...

 

[EmilyHuene]

"My, my, my- for a priest you sure don't dress like one. Are you a harlot? I find that the two are one in the same these days, though the former is simply more adept at speaking nonsense with nothing in her mouth"

"A woman must use all her tools and weapons against the males of the universe who seek to bring her down and throw her on her back." She would lean back and kick off her heels to really emphasise her will over him. It looked as if she wished for him to play with her feet, or message them if he were man enough.

"Would you like anything to drink? The fruity ones are my favorite"

"Nothing for me thank you. I don't exactly trust ingesting anything in your presence. I'm sure you understand...." Ashlyn still didn't trust him, especially since there were gaps in her memory from the last time.

"How do you like your memento? I hope you don't terribly mind, but before you leave here, I'm going to need your help with something. Don't worry, I won't ruin the surprise, but trust me when I say it'll be pretty great if my hypothesis is correct- which it almost 99.99% of the time is"

She would smile and and reach down toward her necklace and gently stroke it with her long nails as it rested ever so perfectly over her bosoms. "It has made a fine addition to my home. I go everywhere with it and I never take it off. You have my thanks for helping me with it. But I do have to ask...what is this favor? I do not consider myself to be in your debt but perhaps we can work something out together, so long as it benefits us both that is."

 

[EmilyHuene]

@Hol Horse