Ask Some... Extracurricular Activities

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara took a deep breath, steeling her nerves as she stood outside the Umbaran bar that had become popular with some of the other acolytes. She was no stranger to socializing, and she wasn't afraid of the others... but she'd been too busy trying to be the perfect student for the past year since she'd arrived to really make any friends. Tonight that was going to change. At least that's what the acolyte had promised herself. With a determined expression the Pureblood walked through the automatic door and into the bar, her ears absorbing the sounds of laughter, bad decisions, and memories lost to a bottle. In other words? Just the right place to be.

Kyssiara wore a new dress she'd managed to scrounge up enough credits for. Ziost wasn't exactly the center of high fashion, nor did she grow up with much, but she hoped it would do to fit in with the crowd. If nothing else, it left little to the imagination and that always drew some attention. The Pureblood looked around, trying to gauge the best spot in the dimly lit area to place herself. The bar? The dance floor? The karaoke machine? So many choices, and ones she was regretfully not experienced in making.

Kyssiara eventually decided on the bar, after standing around as if caught in headlights for several seconds. After all, what good were any of the other activities without being drunk? That's what she'd overheard other acolytes saying at least. The Pureblood began to make her way that direction, weaving through the crowd as best she could; which, for someone used to navigating the academy halls, was not particularly good.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

The neon sign of "The Drunken Mushroom" lit up, or at least partially. Second years had thrown rocks at the 'en' and the 'Mush' parts of the sign until they didn't work. Now the sign just read "The Drunk room" which I mean, wasn't wrong. Connor convinced the owner to not throw all the Acolytes out by pointing out how many credits they raked in from the patronage. Instead, the Umbaran businessman just charged anyone below a third year double for their drinks and food. Sucked to be a first year.

Connor sat at the bar, he was dressed casual even for his standards. He wore a simple black tee, a simple silver chain, his chrono, pair of jeans, and a pair of white sneakers. His back was pressed to the counter and he leaned back to talk to the bar tender. He held a beer bottle loosely by the neck and in his other hand was a lit cigarra.

"Come on Stace, talk to the big man for me yeah?" He pushed. "After all, it was my jobs that drew in these crowds, just a five percent cut and free drinks is all I'm askin'." He continued, his expression neutral but his ears twitched with excitement.

"Con, I've already told ya he ain't gonna bite." She shouted over to him while prepping two mixed drinks for some Acolytes. "You already drink free anyways! Why are bein' so pushy?" She asked. "You broke or somethin'?"

"No!" Yes. "Do I look broke to you Sta-"

Connor was interrupted when a new face was pushed and jostled by the crowd until she reached the bar counter. He quirked a brow at the newcomer. He looked her over really quickly. A Pureblood. She looked like she was a mix of stunned and lost while she made her way up to the bar next to him. Connor took a drag off of his cigarra and pulled his attention from Stace and his failed attempt to con the bar into cutting him in on their profits. Maybe this new chick would be a royal like Arak. Then he could just drain her bank accounts and his problems would be solved.

"You got a doe in the headlights look on your face." Connor shouted over the music. "First time at The Drunk room?"

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara wasn't sure how long she was lost in the crowd, shoving and pushing her way through the throng of people gathered at the front of the so-called "Drunk Room." Finally, though, she stumbled out on the other side and took a seat at the bar, running a hand through her hair. "Whew! That was crazy. Hey bartender, how abouts ya get me one of whatever's popular tonight." she asked, fully aware that her wallet was basically empty. She'd cross that bridge later.

The Pureblood's head turned around at the sound of a shouting voice next to her, belonging to a taller boy who appeared to be around her same age. "Is it really that obvious?" Kyssiara replied, a little embarrassed laugh in her heavily accented voice. "I'm not exactly used ta the whole party scene, normally I spend most a' my time at the academy. Guess I caught a bit a' wanderlust." She paused, accepting a beer bottle handed to her by the bartender. The girl hesitantly examined it for a moment, attempting to discern exactly what it was. The only time she'd been to anything like this was that little shindig on Zeltros a few months back, and that place had been a bit... higher class than this particular establishment.

Then again, what was the point of coming here if not to just let loose and try new things? Kyssiara took a long swig from the bottle, grimacing as she swallowed. This shit tasted like... well, shit! Maybe that was part of the fun of it though? She looked back to the muscular guy next to her, eyes lingering on his cybernetic arm as she took a much smaller sip of her beer. "The name's Kyssiara by the way. What's yours? Something as daring as you look, I presume?"

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor listened to the Pureblood chick as she as, his ear twitched in amusement but no expression leaked onto his face. Instead, Connor sipped from his beer and gave her a nonchalant shrug as his initial reply. "I mean, most people don't order just whatever is popular." He replied cooly. "Most either order a beer or a mixed drink." He continued, watching as Stace gave her a beer.

She was a nerd, that made sense. Connor was catching on that a lot of the Purebloods were definitely...bookish. But that was fine, the Galaxy needed all types after all. He watched as the newcomer took a swig of her beer and grimaced slightly. He leaned back against the bar. "Stace, get her something a little more fruity..." His voice trailed off as he looked her over again. "...make it sweet too, just to be safe."

Connor's emerald gaze returned to her eyes while she looked him over. He was used to that. She was either checking him out or she was checking out his arm. It didn't matter, everyone typically stared at him for one reason or another. He whistled at her, to get her attention. "Eyes are up here." He teased in a deadpan delivery as he gestured with two fingers to his eyes.

Then the newbie introduced herself, Kyssiara. Connor nodded at that and took another swig of his beer before speaking.

"I don't know about daring, but my name is Connor." He replied. "So outside of wanderlust what dragged you all the way out here Kyss?" He asked as Stace served Kyssiara her drink.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara gave the man a smile of appreciation as he told the barkeeper, Stace, to get her a different drink. The Pureblood's head snapped up in response to his whistle, a flustered look on her face. "Oh I didn't mean... no offense! The arm's cool and all, makes you look kinda badass right?" The words were a jumbled mess in response to the guy's signal for Kyssiara to stop staring at his arm. Well, she hadn't been staring exactly, but it's not like the guy wasn't used to it being the first thing people noticed about him, right? Unless he was joking with her, but was he? Ugh. She'd been so busy reading the history books her master had instructed her to memorize that she'd forgotten all her social skills. This was embarrassing.

“Thank you!” Kyssiara told the barkeeper as the guy beside her introduced himself as Connor. Hopefully he was paying for this drink. She took a sip of the cocktail, its fruity flavor much more pleasing to the acolyte’s palate than the beer. “Well it’s nice te meet ya, Connor. You were right by the way, this drink is way better!” The Pureblood took another sip, enjoying the heat of the alcohol in her chest. “Honestly I needed ta get outta the Academy, my master’s got me memorizing a whole bunch of booooooooring Pureblood history." She replied to Connor's question about her reasons for being out, making an exaggerated motion to roll her eyes. "What about you Connor, what’s got you out and about tonight?”

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor’s face didn’t betray anything he felt. It remained as smooth and as neutral as when she walked up. If she knew how to read Sephi or Anfynn emotions, which was unlikely, she’d notice the very slight dip in Connor’s ears. A barely perceptible down turn at the corner of his lips were the only signs of his mood when she mentioned his arm.

“Right, yeah.” He replied. “That’s why I got it to look badass.” He told her.

He listened in complete silence as she thanked him for the drink and answered his question about what brought her out. The same as all the other acolytes, escape the monotony of Academy life. He took a drag from his cigarra when she asked him why he was out and about. He gave her a shrug as he exhaled.

“Wanted a drink and I enjoy Stace’s company here.” He replied as he nodded towards the bartender. She rolled her eyes in response and mouthed the word “No” to Kyssiara.

“I’m catching a vibe from you so lemme just be real for a second.” Connor told her sitting up straight. “Whatever you’re offering, I’m not interested.” He explained, resting his elbows on his knees. “Got my eyes on someone else already.” He wouldn’t elaborate any further than that. He didn’t really care if she liked that or not, it was the truth and she’d just have to deal.

“If that ain’t an issue, pull up a stool. If it is, there are plenty of guys here who’d be dying to take you home I’m sure.”

As he said this, his gaze would turn to the countless acolytes that crowded the bar. It would accent his point before he’d return his gaze to her. “Or chick, depending on who you bat for.” He offered with a shrug.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara fought back a laugh as the bartender implied that she did not, in fact, enjoy Connor's company. What the other acolyte said next, though, caught her way off guard. She waited until he finished his piece, an eyestalk raised in an unimpressed look. "Listen here loverboy, maybe everyone else is infatuated with ya but don't let it go to your head. Sorry that ya got the wrong message, but I ain't battin' for any of... your kind." the Pureblood replied, gesturing towards his crotch at the end.

"I really gotta get out more if I'm givin' off that kinda impression." Kyssiara mumbled to herself before taking a huge gulp of her cocktail. "Well if that's outta the way, lets get wasted and just have some fun, yeah?" She finished her drink, letting out a satisfied exhale. "Sorry to yap your ear off, but are ya an acolyte? I don't think I've seen ya in a class before." Truth be told, the Pureblood hadn't really noticed most of the other people in her classes, especially with her master's intense (and painfully long) lectures about "knowing her heritage." Too bad for him, though, cause she was gonna spend her night having fun instead of falling asleep on some dusty old tome. Whether Kyssiara had that fun with this Connor guy or someone else remained to be seen, but surely she could find another acolyte if he turned out to be boring. So far he was entertaining, if nothing else.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor’s left eyebrow raised just a hair. While his face betrayed none of his internal thoughts, he seriously doubted how honest Kyssiara was being with him. But he didn’t care enough to call that out, he’d said his peace and she understood the boundary. Gay, bisexual, pan, or none of the above, it didn’t seem she’d push the envelope. So Connor gave a shrug, he chose to ignore her comments about his big head or ego.

“You got the money to pay for your drinks right?” He asked before ordering himself another beer. “If you don’t, they’ll make a tab for you and come to collect in a few days.” By them be meant him.

Kyssiara started asking questions about him. Namely if he was an acolyte, Connor smirked and took a drag off of his cigarra. “Yeah, I am.” He replied. “You seem the bookish type, my buddy Arak is too.” He commented. “Likes to read grimoires that whisper to you and shit.” He continued. “Kinda wild.”

“So you from Kordedbands?” He asked, butchering Korriban’s name.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

There it was, the dreaded money question. She had what, 6 entire credits? "Oh, uhh yeah, totally, I've got credits in my... wallet." Kyssiara told Connor, her energetic attitude dropping a little bit. The wallet she'd left back in her room at the academy. Shit, what the hell was her master's credit card number again? "Although maybe a tab wouldn't be such a terrible idea." she added.

Luckily the conversation turned to acolyte related things as Connor answered her question, adding a few extra comments about one of his friends too. Whispering grimoires? The Pureblood hadn't met this other guy before, but it seemed he was her type of person. "Sound's like an interesting dude, Arak ya said? You'll have ta introduce us sometime." Kyssiara replied.

Connor's question about "Kordedbands" was one the acolyte was quite used to given all the noble Purebloods in the Order, if not kind of done hearing at this point; though she supposed he did get bonus points for his unique butchering of the planet's name. "Oh, ya mean Korriban? Nah, I ain't from that den of stuck-up noble assholes." Kyssiara explained, before raising both her three-fingered left hand and four-fingered right one for the other acolyte to compare. "I'm from Ziost, apparently some nobleman's mistake." She didn't expect Connor to understand the intricate (bullshit) details of Pureblood culture, and maybe he'd be annoyed at the percieved overshare, but she'd never miss an opportunity to rail against Pureblood elites.

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor watched as Kyssiara’s demeanor dropped slightly at the mention of paying for her own drinks. She then claimed to have the money but ended up settling on a tab. Connor realized that this one wasn’t a mark at all, he couldn’t rob someone who seemed to have less than him. Internally, he sighed at his bad luck.

Connor was about to agree to introducing her to Arak at some point then her tirade against the nobility started. Connor’s ears dipped slightly, he took a sip of his beer while Kyssiara went on a verbal rampage. She even flashed a three and four digit hand to him.

“You ever thought that your daddy issues don’t reflect on the rest of the nobles?” He asked plainly. “Your dad might be a scumbag, doesn’t mean the rest of them are.” He continued. “Take Darth Arcanos as an example, rumor has it his agenda is more progressive than any royal has had in a thousand years.” Connor shrugged. “Can’t be that bad if that’s the case, right?”

The entire time he spoke, Connor kept his voice calm and neutral. His face remained expressionless. Nothing betrayed his internal thoughts, at least not until what he said next.

“Maybe we hold off on meeting Arak til you get that sorted, yeah?”

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Well this guy was just rude, wasn't he? Kyssiara wanted to say something, anything, but the words weren't coming to her. She didn't have daddy issues, she could care less about the guy! Except to kill him for revenge, she really did want to show him she was worth more than he was. Oh shit. The Pureblood closed her slightly agape mouth, momentarily lost in thought. Maybe she did have daddy issues. Beyond that, Connor had made a good point. Darth Arcanos hadn't exactly been heir apparent to Korriban, but he'd taken it by force because he could. He was in control because he was the most powerful; wasn't that her entire philosophy?

"Well ya didn't have to put it that way." Kyssiara mumbled, clearly irritated but begrudgingly accepting Connor's point for the time being. "But I guess you're not entirely wrong." The Pureblood finished her drink in one long gulp, trying to put the awkward interaction behind her. She hadn't come here to talk about her father, or the Sith, she'd come here to have fun and blow off work for the academy. "Enough of my blabbering then," Kyssiara said, trying to break up the weird gap of silence. "Whadda you get up to outside of academy classes? Besides this place of course."

@Apollyon

 

[Connor Vance]

Connor watched Kyssiara’s mouth open to protest his point. Then he saw the wheels turning in her eyes, she froze for a heart beat, and then her mouth slowly closed. Connor nodded slowly before Kyssiara spoke again.

When Kyss muttered that he didn’t have to make his point like that, Connor shrugged in reply. Why would he mix words like that? Especially when he barely knew her. When she told him he wasn’t entirely wrong, he quirked an eyebrow. “I know I’m not.” He replied confidently.

Kyss asked what he did outside of class and The Drunk room. That made Connor pause, she really didn’t know who he was. Good, that meant he could still scam some of the other Acolytes.

“I do all kinds of stuff.” He replied vaguely. “You know business, Shadda busin-”

“He’s a crook.” Stace told her, butting in on their conversation. “He plans all his jobs here.” She continued. “From the Corporate heist to robbing the Kyber mine. All at this bar.”

Connor’s ears pinned themselves back, his gaze flickered to Stace. That neutral expression faded for a handful of seconds while she spoke. Connor’s irritation bled through while Stace openly snitched on him to some chick he didn’t know.

“Gods damn it Sta-”

“Connor please, more than half this bar already knows your clique ran those jobs.”

Connor sipped his beer to hide his annoyed mood and expression. “Yeah, that is what I do.” He told her. “Run jobs and make peggats.”

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara couldn't help but laugh as the bartender, Stace, exposed Connor with absolutely no hesitation. It was clear he was annoyed, the first time in the entire conversation that the other acolyte could actually read his mood with any degree of accuracy. So this was the troublemaking acolyte she'd overheard some conversations about back at the academy; not that she'd been directly involved in those conversations, and trying to listen while studying at the library had left her with few details outside of stories of lost money.

"Well I didn't realize I was drinkin' with someone so accomplished." Kyssiara replied, her laughs dying down as she composed herself. "I don't know if I should be amazed or worried." she teased. In reality, she was definitely amazed. Who better to start making connections with than one of the members of the acolyte "clique" Stace had mentioned? The Pureblood knew they got out and about much more than she did.

"You've been off-world quite a lot then, right? What's it like out there? I'm sure you've got all kinds of stories if you're out doin' these jobs." Kyssiara asked in a light tone, but with genuine curiosity behind her eyes. She'd already mentioned it earlier, but she was tired of being trapped in the dark, boring confines of the academy all day. She'd only been out a few times, but those had all been with her decrepit-looking master. There weren't many sights to see when stealing art off of a train, or while being judged for chasing down philliaks on Zeffo.

@Apollyon