Pre-TL: Skelly Shenanigans

[Killa Ree]

In the deepest, slimy guts of Nar Shaddaa…

"'EY!"

A small, redheaded figure skidded rather gracelessly against the slimy ground(and only stars knew what it was slimy from. Refuse? some dead thing? She really didn't want to know), clambering up to face the open doorway. A visible scowl pinched up her features as she strode back to the open doorway, only to get shoved back.

"Gimme back my stuff, you sleemo!" she snarled, shoving back against the beefy Human male that stood in her way. He laughed, shrugging away her batting arms, and then hefted a duffle out into the slimy street with a shrug. "And my payment!" she bellowed, smacking him in the chest.

He simply shrugged once again. "If you've got a problem, do a better job. The boss let you live, that's payment enough." With that said, he roughly shoved her back and slammed the door shut.

Right in her face.

"For that junky droid?!" she screeched, irately kicking one boot against the door with a snarl. "Yer lucky the thing didn' catch a'fire with all that sparkin', you low-life, money-grubbing bunch o' punchy--" the rest was lost with an incoherent screech as she kicked and pounded at the door again, then let out one last snarl.

"Fine. This was a heap o' junk anyways. Hasta la bye-bye, you bunch o' useless-"

So saying, she muttered this while picking up her bag, and half-heartedly wiping off the slime. She hadn't been paying attention to where she was going, but suddenly she slammed into someone else, the words spilling out as she tried to swipe ginger bangs from her forehead.

"'Scuse me, I was just--" but something about them made her pause, gawking slightly.

Had she hit her head? Because her day just got weird.

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

THEME​

There were plenty of benefits to Nar Shaddaa. A clean environment was not one of them. The streets and walkways had clusters of garbage, small torn wrappers from food, bottles and pieces of glass crushed into powder but glittering faintly in the neon lights. Rain fell on the Grysk's beanie. His attire was casual, as usual. The faint scent of spice, smoke and alcohol wafted off of him to anybody close by though most of it was muted by the rainfall. His hoverboard moved above the wet ground a few centimeters. Occasionally he pushed off to continue his momentum forward but otherwise moved along at a calm and even pace.

The eyes in the skull like face of Malakai apathetically scanned the street. Smoke rose from his cigara and curled in front of his face. He had rolled a particularly phat one to make sure it would not go out if it was hit by a drop of water. The days on the Smuggler's Moon were nearly eighty hours long so the nights and clubbing tended to last longer than it usually did on other planets. That was one of the benefits of living on Nar Shaddaa.

The dark-sider rounded a corner. Some small girl was pounding on a door but the young man was just going to keep his hands stuffed in his pockets and roll on. But it seemed the galaxy did not like him having a chill time or enjoy a calm boarding session. The redheaded human turned and bumped into him, making him lose his footing on his hoverboard enough to step off of it. The board kept going a few meters before slowing and stopping.

"What? You never seen Death before?" He joked and took a deep inhale of his doobie. The ember on the tip flared up and was followed by a billowing cloud which exited through his mouth and into the girl's face. A skull like grin and gentle chuckle followed from the macabre skater. The man was well aware of how he appeared and tended to make the most of it. Maybe the young girl would freak out and run screaming. She would not be the first.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

She flinched at the smoke blown in her face; she knew she was gawking, but honestly, having nearly clotheslined a skelly boy was hardly on her top ten of weird things that had happened to her in her lifetime before. There seemed a distinct moment which she considered running off.

But then she got a really good look at his face. And hers turned from shock... to an odd, delighted joy.

"Oh my stars!" she gasped, circumstances temporarily forgotten. Her whole face lit up, deep brown eyes practically sparkling in the dim shifting neon blues and purples of the ever-present seedy nightlife. If she could bounce in place she would have, but instead she seemed to tightly restrain herself; hands wedged themselves tightly to her sides as arms crossed, the bag shifted over one shoulder.

"Man, if that's what Death looks like, I'm shocked he looks so lively," she quipped back, one brow raised with a grin. "Sorry for bumpin' inta ya, you cruised in all sudden an' I---" she glanced back over her shoulder. So it was a hoverboard... she hadn't imagined it. She suddenly seemed to snap back to the present, twisting her head back into his direction.

"Anyways, yeah, sorry, was focusing on the slee-, err, I mean, that ugly dude that tossed me." She flashed her brightest smile. "Good reflexes though, yeah? Anyways, sorry..." she moved forward as if to walk past him... stumbling again as she did tripping on another piece of refuse against the poor guy again, cursing up a storm.

"Son of a--- this kriffing planet!"

Regaining her footing, she blushed bright scarlet.

"Ahem. Sorry there, Bone Boy. Watch out, that stuff's slippery."

There was a feeling... something beneath that chill exterior.

Shame he had empty pockets though, she could have used a cigara herself. Something to take the edge off the crappy day she'd been having. Perhaps he wouldn't catch that she was trying to pickpocket him; not that it mattered anyways. She gave him a cheerful wave, and started walking.

She needed to gain some distance if he decided to come after her for trying to steal from him, after all. A girl in a place like this had to know had to survive another day, after all, because in Nar Shaddaa, nobody missed a kid like her.

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

The man chuckled, it quickly turned into a cough but he kept his fiendish grin all the while. "I'll...ahem... take that as a compliment. Hehe." She seemed to apologize a lot. Most people on Nar Shaddaa were not that polite. Then again she looked like she did not belong.

She bumped into him and moved past, cursing and then apologizing again. He grabbed her wrist and held it tightly. Pulling her back from walking away the Grysk tightened his grip on her arm and looked at her hand to make sure she was not holding anything. Malakai's free hand patted himself down to make sure his wallet and other items were still where they needed to be. Finding everything in place he let go of her.

"You gotta work on your pickpocketing kid. That acting was decent though. Could be better." The Sith was not sure if she had really been in distress when she bumped into him. He grew up on the streets and had conned plenty of people. A few times he had been a mark for others but in this case the skeletal individual was not going to get duped that easily these days.

His hand raised to scratch his forehead. The other extended and pulled the blaster pistol from the redhead's hip. The weapon flew to his skeletal hand but was not held in a hostile manner. "Hmm...what's a young shorty like you doing walking around with a heater. Most pickpockets aren't strapped." His eyes looked the simple blaster over. It was probably still smart for her to be packing. Nar Shaddaa was dangerous. The entire outer rim was. But most thieves could not afford a blaster and used their skills to just get by.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

What color was already on her cheeks stained a deeper red when he snagged her wrist and held on. Tightly.

Kriff, the guy looked like a twig, but he didn't have the grip of one.

She tried to pull away but he held on tighter, and whatever protests she had sputtered and died on her lips, as she gave another yank. "Good. Was a compliment," she huffed, a strand of curly ginger flopping across her face, only to be half-heartedly swiped away by her other hand.

"...I know. But I'm starvin'," she commented, mouth dropping open when he just snagged away her blaster.

"EY! Gimme that," she pleaded, lunging forward against it in an effort to recover the weapon. It wasn't her only one... but it was her first, and special because of that. She lunged up again, not noticing how close she was up to the strange guy that seemed to tease her... not a reaction she anticipated.

She finally slumped after a few more reaches, internally cursing all the genetics she inherited... especially height. If she were at his level she could fight back, no problem! But the way he gripped her other wrist meant she couldn't reach her vibroblade, and it took quite a twist anyways...

A low sigh slipped between her teeth, as she gazed at her blaster. "Got stiffed, an' before that my ride bailed." It was the closest version to the truth she could utter without being embarrassed anyways, but nothing was more mortifying than being caught. And she was doing so well before... perhaps she was getting sloppy?

"Wanted to get a decent meal, yeah? And someplace to sleep." It was mostly the truth, but most didn't want to offer a ride to a kid without a heavy fee. Or asking where her parents were. A girl had to eat somehow, right?

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

His gaze switched from the blaster back down to the struggling redhead. "mmm...maybe they didn't like your manners." He said in a half joke. Most people disliked Malakai for his lack of etiquette as well. But the girl seemed like she was surprised that her actions had consequences. The Grysk knew what he did was wrong when he carried out his acts. But he also believed he was a terrible person to begin with.

He let her wrist go, allowing her to stumble back a step or two. The bony hand came up to the blaster and ejected the cartridge and vented the rest of the gas that was still in the weapon. Tossing the weapon up it came back down the the grip facing Myrna. He offered it back but kept the ammo cartridge, not wanting to get shot by the young female.

Turning around Malakai headed to pick up his hoverboard that still lay idle a few meters away. "If you agree to not try to rob me or anything there's a shop down the street. I'll buy." He said calmly without looking at her. Taking pity are we? "ugh." The dark sider rolled his eyes at the familiar voice inside his own head like he was the one being teased now.

Malakai dusted off the board though it only had droplets of water from the rain on it. Whether the ginger child followed or not he would still go to the nearby noodle shop, walking this time but the hoverboard held under one arm. Malakai's cigara was mostly done so he flicked it into the gutter, sending a spark flying but ultimately dying out quickly thereafter.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

She stumbled back a step but was already back steady on her feet, blinking and absentmindedly rubbing her wrist. When he held out the blaster to her, she huffed at his removing the ammo pack and disabling it. It wasn't like she was gonna shoot him... not really. She just kept it on to keep the creeps at bay. And it mostly worked, until pretty recently.

...Wait...

What?

She stared at him for a beat, unsure if she was hearing things right. Most on Nar Shaddaa would have already shanked her just for stumbling into them. But the guy seemed... chill. Or at the very least, unruffled by everything. Even her excuses. And he offered food! Her mouth began to water, but then she felt a flash of indignation at his first teasing comment... then resignation.

"...Nah. My ride wanted to use me as a living dinner plate. I said no." She shivered just thinking about it. Not about the idea, she was certain with the right person it could be fun, but... that guy was just strait up creepazoids. She got the twitches just thinking about the guy. "As for my employer... he, uh..." she coughed, hands twisting the shoulder strap to her bag.

"Let's just say his droid was more for... recreational use than anything else." Again she coughed, flinching at the thought. "No amount of hydrocutting would save that ol' sparky," she muttered under her breath, mostly to herself. But then she realized.

He said he would buy. The Bone Boy was really gonna be nice?

"Really?!" she squeaked, suddenly snapping to attention and trotting after him. "You got a deal! Though, I am... er… sorry." It seemed the words were hard-coming, as she couldn't really look him in the face, just down at her feet.

But despite it all, there was a feeling in her gut. Not really a voice per se, but a nagging feeling that no matter how nice Mister Skelly was...

Something was ever so slightly off.

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

He cocked an eyebrow, an amused expression on his face as he listened to the girl give her back story. He had no idea what she was alluding to. Maybe he would figure it out later in a few minutes. Sometimes ideas came slow but when they finally did come he would snap his finger in eureka. Then hate himself for taking to long to realize the idea. Like that time I couldn't think of...Force dammit I forgot again.

He shook his head at the additional apology. Ironically this time it was probably more heartfelt than before. But still it would maybe give her the idea that she might reconsider trying to dupe people with a 'sorry'. The two would walk for a short while in silence. It was not long before they arrived under the awning that was dripping accumulated rain.

When the dark sider entered he smiled at the warmth and also a call out from the Zabrak server behind the counter. <"Hey how's it going? Two of your house specials."> The Grysk found his way to a stool at a counter in front of the ramen chef. The place was not very busy, only one other customer present and he seemed to be finishing up his bowl anyways.

Malakai switched back to basic when he spoke to Myrna. "You're not from round here." He said as he pulled out one of the disposable napkins from the dispenser and put it in his lap. There were chop sticks as well which he nabbed and held for when the bowls were delivered. It would take a minute or two before the duo were provided with the food. Malakai expected to get some answers or at least some mildly entertaining conversation until they finished eating at least.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

Well, this was awkward.

She didn't mind a free meal--honestly, if she had to start stealing again, maybe she could score off some of the less rough-lookin' guys-- but she minded feeling in the wrong. It had been a very tough couple of months, and though she didn't miss home at all, she missed sleeping on something other than a hard pallet or slimy ground. She sniffed deeply in appreciation with the rich smells... and was grateful that at least the other customer there was leaving.

She really didn't want an audience for any of this.

All the ridiculousness of the last week finally caught up to her, and her head almost swam with the sheer amount of exhaustion that was held locked into wiry muscles. Her shoulders dropped, and she stared down into her lap, long hair like a curtain over the other side of her face as she chewed on her bottom lip.

"Nope. Guess 'prickly' ain't in my vocab," she quipped, sliding a glance his way. "You're not exactly native either; I gotta admit, you're the first I've seen. Then again, there seem to be a whole lotta firsts for this gal." She gave a wry smile, snagging a disposable napkin for herself, then letting out a low sigh. "Just couldn't stick around a wild circus fam anymore."

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

"You noticed that huh? Well you're right, I'm not from around here. But I've been here longer than you apparently. Didn't come from no circus though. You seriously from one of those? I thought that was like... a holo-drama trope." She seemed to have a complicated back story. Grew up in a circus off world, had an associated that betrayed her, and a boss that was either a droid, busted up a droid for fun, or had weird romantic cybernetic relations. Malakai could not tell which one was the case but at the same time he was not sure he wanted to know.

​

After a short period they each served a piping hot bowl of noodles, vegetables, a nuna egg and associated ingredients. There were mushrooms but chances were that it was hyperfrozen from some far off planet. Far from fresh but with the hot broth and prepared it was still one of the tastiest foods Malakai enjoyed.

Malakai pulled some of the noodles out and blew on them to cool them off. Slurping them up he looked over to see how Myrna was doing. He wondered if she knew how to eat them. "ush tha fork ish you cant ush the shticksh." He said with a mouth full of noodle.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

She glanced at the food... and if there was a look of pure love and delight that lit up that girl's face, it was the look she gave to that bowl of ramen. She clapped her hands once in delight, then beamed up at the chef, chocolate brown eyes gleaming with delight. "Thanks!" she grinned at both him, and her newfound companion, picking up the sticks with a practiced ease.

It had been a long time since she had eaten anything quite as good as this... almost as long as the last time she was on Dantooine. She gave him a blank stare, however, when he mentioned having a circus family. But then she blinked, and then.

"Oh!"

She blushed again, giving a self-depreciating huff. "Nah... Not quite circus per se, but... big family, ya know? Lots o' big and small kids runnin' about, farm life and all that..." she shrugged, toying idly with her own chopsticks, giving a wistful smile. "But I gotta tell ya, I miss racin'. Goin' through those forests, with nothin' to protect ya, your opponents wantin' to knock ya outta the competition." She sniffed appreciatively at the broth, then scooped up some noodles herself, blowing them before slurping down rapidly.

And closed her eyes for a moment, just appreciating a second of peace.

"So what brings ya this far down? If ya don't mind a kid pryin'."

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

She had not meant a literal circus. That was probably Malakai's fault for taking it that way. But then again, the girl was odd. It was hard to understand what she meant with everything she said. "You're a long way from a farm." He commented.

"What like...speeder racing? Or you ride some weird quadruped I've never probably heard of before?" There she went, talking about things like he automatically knew what she was talking about. Myrna probably thought everyone had a odd and exciting life story with shared experiences like racing. Malakai liked to race, but only when it was a swoop bike. Usually that was just to get an adrenaline high or when someone made a bet worth his while.

"How do you know I don't just live down here?" He answered her question with another question. She assumed he was coming from somewhere else since he was not a Nar Shaddaa local. But Malakai was curious about what she was taking away from his appearance and what he had done so far.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

She immediately lit up when he mentioned speeders, almost bouncing in her seat.

"Yes! Exactly that, speeders and pods an' anything we could junk together... man, I had the sweetest ride, too, had a swoop engine antique but she ran like a dream with those converter cells..." She grinned, scooping up another mouthful of noodles before realizing she had been asked a question... with her own question.

She quirked a brow at him, as if to ask if he was kidding... then gulped the rest of the mouthful down before answering.

"If ya were a local, I'd be dead in a gutter right now an' you'd have my useless junk." She tilted her head slightly, lips pursed contemplatively. "An' most people here are just transitioning; people close to a spaceport aren't here for funsies, ya know. It's none my business where yer from, anyhow," she shrugged again, scooping up a small sliced mushroom and sighing happily.

"I got food, I'm good."

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

"That's a naive assumption. There are plenty of people across the galaxy that would pull out your intrails just for being in front of them. Not all of them are from Nar Shaddaa. Plus...I can always kill ya once I'm done with my meal." He said with a deadpan tone and staring over at Myrna as she tried to inhale her meal. A few heartbeats later and he chuckled to himself and went back to eating.

"Yeah it's pretty good in my opinion too." The words were followed with a loud slurp of noodles being consumed. "But what else. I mean, you say you have a boss, er, had a boss maybe. But what did you do? I don't imagine pickpocketing is the kind of job you get hired to do."

His commlink would chirp making him look at it. But Malakai would put it back in his pocket and ignore it. The rest of the time he would guzzle down the food in his bowl.


@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

She contemplated him for a beat, lips pressed and eyes narrowed.

After a beat, she shrugged. "Meh. At least I'll have died after eating a good meal," she shot back with a grin, brow arched. He was a bit of a spookster, but honestly... she'd seen worse in her brief time here. She liked living, but even Myr had to admit, around the galaxy you died just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She wasn't gonna waste time being afraid of every what-if and any other nightmarish possibility.

That threshold of fear was crossed about two weeks ago, actually.

She poked at her egg with the sticks for a moment after his question, giving a one-shoulder shrug. "I fix things; I can't explain it, it's like I can feel what's wrong with 'em?" She screwed up her nose, puzzling out her words.

"I've always been good at fixin' things. Droids, datapads, ships, that kinda stuff. Usedta read all the books I could get my hands on when we were taken from primary school." She flushed at his last comment, beginning to tip the bowl to her lips to finish the broth, only deigning to answer when it was half-empty. "Nah. That was spur o' the moment; I only took enough to eat, before." She knew her tone was defensive, but she couldn't help it. There were a few other options to scoring a meal, but she wasn't going to start begging, and she wasn't gonna start removing clothes. She shivered just thinking about that.

@Darasaurus

 

[Darasuum]

The girl did not scare easily. That was good, at least it was better than being frightened of everything that moved. Hopefully she was not just ignorant of the dangers. Then her lack of fear would probably be what got her hurt, or worse.

"What are you like part droid or something?" He mused. Malakai was not sure if she was being serious still. If she was then he did not know what to make of it. People feeling machines sounded weird. Maybe she was just a delusional teenager that had read one too many dramatic stories. Then she mentioned reading books, but she probably meant manuals.

Leaning over he plucked the egg out of her bowl since she had been playing with it. "Taken? You were taken from public school?" He ate the half egg in one bite and resumed slurping the broth of the bowl. In turn he chased it with some tea.

@Killa Ree

 

[Killa Ree]

She shrugged, downing the rest of her ramen before answering. She knew she ought to be upset he just stole a bite of food from her, but really, having siblings meant you were used to having things taken without asking. Instead she set the empty bowl down, sighing and leaning back slightly.

"Hah, no. Would be pretty cool though," she grinned, crossing her arms.

At his question, she cocked her head, giving him a quizzical stare.

"Yea. Most backwater farmin' places can't afford to hire out droids, especially in remote places. Kids're cheaper labor, and easier to maintain." She shivered a little, fingers tightening on her arms. She had to forget most people didn't grow up in backwoods areas like Dantooine's more remote farms did... and it was all the more reminder that she was who she was anxious to outrun. Stupid farmer girl, she berated herself, jaw clenching just for a moment before she continued talking. "I didn't want to stick around though. Growin' things is all well and good, but it's the dullest thing ever. I'm sure even moisture farms have more fun than vegetable growers do."

She shrugged, then turned, scooping up her bag.

"Well, that's my sob story anyhow. Thanks for the meal, Bone Boy."

She hopped off the stool, and gave him a wink.

Hopefully this time she could actually get away, but even Myr knew better than to linger and find out.

@Darasaurus